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THE STORY 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR 

wr: 


BY 


MARY F. LEONARD 

u 


y 

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u They helped every one his neighbor.” 



New York: 46 East Fourteenth Street 

THOMAS Y. CROWELL & COMPANY 

Boston: 100 Purchase Street 

TWO COPIES RECEIVED- 




2nd COPY, 

1898 . 


8054 


Copyright, 1898, 

By Thomas Y. Crowell & Company. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER PAGE 

I. The Outlaws 1 

II. In the Star Chamber 12 

III. The Lady of the Brown House .... 20 

IY. Dora 31 

Y. Uncle William 51 

VI. The Magic Door 59 

YII. Ikey’s Accident 65 

VIII. The M.KS 74 

IX. A Rival Club 84 

X. Good Neighbors 93 

XI. Plans 103 

XII. Cedar and -Holly 112 

XIII. The Harp Man’s Benefit 127 

XIY. Clouds 140 

XV. Dora’s Bright Idea 156 

XVI. Silver Keys 165 

XVII. A Prisoner 172 

XVIII. Something Else Happens 183 

XIX. Aunt Sukey’s Story 190 

XX. The Order of the Big Front Door . . 198 


iv CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER PAGE 

XXI. Work and Plat 206 

XXII. Uncle William is Surprised 219 

XXIII. _ Jim 230 

XXIY. A Disappointment 238 

XXV. Aunt Zelie 246 

XXYI. The Big Front Door is Left Alone . . 255 


THE STORY 


OF 

THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


CHAPTER I. 

THE OUTLAWS. 

“ Come listen to me, ye gallants so free, 

All ye who love mirth for to hear ; 

And I will tell you of a bold outlaw 
Who lived in Nottinghamshire.” 

Old Ballad. 

Ikey Fold was the first to make the discovery, 
and he lost no time in carrying the news to the 
others. 

Great was their consternation ! 

“ Moving into the Brown house? Nonsense, 
Ikey, you are making it up ! ” Carl exclaimed. 

“ What shall we do about the banquet for King 
Richard ? ” cried Bess, sitting down on the door- 
step despairingly. 

“And my racket is over there, and your grand- 
ma’s fur rug, Ikey Ford ! ” wailed Louise, shaking 


2 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


her finger at the bringer of evil tidings. He 
assented meekly, adding, “ and Sallie’s clothes- 
pins.” 

A stranger might have been puzzled to guess 
what sort of calamity had befallen the little group 
in the doorway of the pleasant, hospitable-looking 
house among the maple trees, that warm August 
morning. Something serious certainly, for Louise’s 
dimples had disappeared, Bess was almost tearful, 
and the boys, though they affected to take it more 
lightly, were plainly depressed. 

“ Let ’s go over to Ikey’s and look through the 
fence,” suggested Carl, and, as there seemed 
nothing else to do, the others agreed. 

They filed solemnly down the walk and across 
the street, — Bess with a roll of green cambric 
under her arm, — and nobody uttered a word till 
a secluded spot behind Mrs. Ford’s syringa bushes 
was reached, where, through an opening in the 
division fence, they could look out unobserved 
upon the adjoining house. 

“ The side windows are open ! ” Louiseannounced 
in a tragic whisper. 

“ Did n’t I tell you so ? ” replied Ikey with 
mournful triumph. 

It was a small house with a pointed roof, and it 
stood in the midst of an old-fashioned garden, 
where for years and years lilacs and snowballs, 
peonies and roses, pinks and sweet-william, and 
dozens of other flowers, had bloomed happily in 


THE OUTLAWS . 


3 


their season, without any trouble to anybody. In 
the background sunflowers and hollyhocks grew, 
and on either side of the front gate two stout little 
cedars stood like sentinels on guard. The street 
upon which this gate opened was wide and shady, 
and the bustle and dih of the city had not yet 
invaded its quiet. 

Though in reality a red house grown somewhat 
rusty, it was called the “ Brown house,” because 
as far back as any one in the neighborhood could 
remember it had been occupied by an old lady of 
that name. For years before she died she was bed- 
ridden, and to the children there was something 
mysterious about this person who was never 
seen, but on whose account they were cautioned 
not to be noisy at their play. After her death 
the house was left closed and unoccupied, but 
hardly more silent than before. An air of mystery 
still hung about the place ; the children when they 
passed peeped in at the flowers alone in their 
glory, and spoke softly as though even yet their 
owner might be disturbed. 

This was in the early spring; as the summer 
wore on this garden grew more and more irresist- 
ible. Other playgrounds lost their charm to the 
eyes that looked . in at the long waving grass and 
the pleasant shady places under the apple trees. 

“Let’s play Robin Hood,” Bess proposed one 
morning as they sat in a row on the fence. 

Carl and Louise received the idea with enthusi- 


4 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


asm, and Ikey listened in silent admiration as the 
details of the fascinating game were unfolded. 

The Hazeltine children had from their babyhood 
been in the habit of making plays of their favorite 
stories, but it seemed to Ikey immensely clever; 
so while the others argued over who should take 
this part and who that, he joyfully accepted what- 
ever was offered him. 

He did not fare so badly either, for being plump 
and rosy he was allowed to personate the jolly 
Friar Tuck. Robin Hood fell naturally to Carl as 
the oldest and the leader, Bess became Little John, 
Louise appeared by turns as Allan-a-Dale and the 
sheriff of Nottingham, and little Helen was occa- 
sionally pressed into service as Maid Marian. Who 
first thought of turning the deserted garden into 
Sherwood forest no one could ever remember, but as 
they sat on the fence that morning with the waving 
sea of grass below them, somebody began 


u One for the money, 

Two for the show, . . .” 

and away they all went. Some minutes later, Mrs. 
Ford, glancing from her window, wondered what 
had become of the children. 

So the fun began and continued through the long 
summer days, when grown people stayed indoors and 
wondered what the children found to do out in the 
heat from morning till night. But in that distant 
corner of the garden, where, under the shelter of 


THE OUTLAWS. 


5 


a crooked apple tree, the forest rovers had their 
trysting place, the weather was never too warm. 
The unoccupied house became transformed into 
Nottingham castle, and was never approached with- 
out delicious thrills of terror. Excitement ran 
high on the day when Robin was released from the 
jail — otherwise a small rustic arbor — by his trusty 
followers. 

There was simply no end to the fun, and the 
secrecy with which it was carried on helped to 
deepen the interest. The climax was reached 
when preparations were begun for King Richard’s 
banquet. 

As usual, it originated with Bess, when she heard 
that a favorite cousin, a boy about Carl’s age, was 
coming to visit them for a few days. 

“ Aleck will make a very good King Richard,” 
said Louise, when the matter was under discus- 
sion, “and we can pretend that he is just back 
from the Holy Land.” 

It was decided that this must be a real feast, not 
merely an occasion of pepper grass and cookies, so 
their combined funds were carefully laid out at the 
corner confectionery. Many articles supposed to 
be necessary to the comfort of the royal guest were 
smuggled into the garden, and everything was in 
readiness for his arrival on the next day, when Ikey 
made his startling discovery. 

It had never occurred to them that some one 
might come to live in the Brown house ; they were 


6 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


quite overwhelmed by it, and for more than an 
hour they sat under the syringa bushes peeping 
through at their lost domain. No one had much 
to say. Bess was gazing sadly at her roll of 
cambric which was to have done duty as suits of 
Lincoln green for the foresters, and Ikey was 
thinking of the fur rug and the clothes-pins, when 
Carl proposed a raid for the recovery of their pos- 
sessions. “ The girls can wait on the fence and 
take the things as we bring them y ” he said. 

This promised a little excitement, so on the very 
spot from which they had made their first entrance 
into Sherwood forest, Bess and Louise waited 
while the boys dropped down and disappeared 
behind the bushes. In a few minutes they came 
rushing back empty handed, to report that not a 
trace of anything was to be found, and that a man 
with a scythe was at work on the other side of the 
garden cutting down the grass. 


It was very quiet in the neighborhood that after- 
noon. There were no children to be seen anywhere, 
and on the broad piazza of the house where the 
Hazeltines lived the chairs and settees, with here 
and there a gay cushion, appeared to be having a 
good time all to themselves, gathered in sociable 
groups. The clematis and honeysuckle swung 
softly in the breeze, making graceful shadows, and 
the maple trees stretched out long arms and touched 


THE OUTLAWS. 


7 


each other gently now and then. At the back of 
the house on the kitchen steps sat Aunt Sukey, a 
person of dignity and authority. Her hands were 
folded over her white apron and her eyes rested 
with satisfaction on the rows of peach preserves 
that represented her morning’s work. 

“Mammy,” as the children called her, was a 
family institution, and could not be spared, though 
her last nursling was fast outgrowing her. 

No preserves tasted like Sukey’s, and no one 
could, on occasion, make such rolls. 

“Yes,” she remarked, continuing her conversa- 
tion with Mandy, the cook, who was stepping around 
inside, “ they ’s mischevious of course, but I can 
remember when Mr. Frank and Mr. William was a 
heap worse.” 

“Law, Aunt Sukey, I wouldn’t want to see 
’em if they was any worse than that Ikey Ford! 
It looks like the children has been up to twice as 
many pranks since he come,” replied Mandy. 

“ He don’t take after his pa, then ; Mr. Isaac was 
as nice, quiet-mannered a boy as you ever see, 
when he used to go with Mr. Frank. But pshaw ! 
all that triflin’ is soon over. Look at Miss Zdlie: 
seems like it warn’t no time since she was climbin’ 
fences and tearin’ her clothes, till I ’d get clean dis- 
couraged tryiii’ to keep her nice. Oh ! they ’s fine 
children, I don’t care what you say ; and Louise 
is the flock of the flower. She is like Miss Zelie, 
with her dark eyes and shinin’ hair.” 


8 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


“ Miss Z61ie herself sets more store by Carl than 
any of the rest,” said Mandy, coming to the door. 

“ That ’s cause he favors his ma’s family and has 
a look like his uncle Carl. You know Miss ZGie 
married Miss Elinor’s brother. He used to come 
here for his holidays when she was a little girl no 
bigger ’n Bess, — that was after Mr. Frank mar- 
ried Miss Elinor, — and they was always great 
friends. It looks like it’s mighty strange that Miss 
Elinor and Mr. Carl should be taken, and old Sukey 
left.” 

There was silence for a minute ; then as Sukey 
wiped her eyes she continued, “ I ’ve nursed ’em 
all from Mr. W illiam' down, and I knows old mas- 
ter’s grandchildren is bound to turn out right.” 

It was almost sunset when Aunt Z61ie — tall and 
fair, like Bess’s favorite heroines — came and stood 
in the front door, wondering where the children 
were. She was not left long in doubt, for hardly 
had she settled herself to enjoy the pleasant air 
when there was a sudden rush from somewhere 
and she was surrounded by a laughing, breathless 
little company. The outlaws of the morning were 
scarcely to be recognized. Little John and the 
sheriff of Nottingham were attired in the freshest 
of white dresses, with pink bows on their Gretchen 
braids, while Robin and the Friar were disguised 
as a pair of bright-faced modern boys, and with 
them was little Helen, a dignified person of eight, 
who carried a doll in her arms. 


THE OUTLAWS. 


9 


“Auntie, did you know that somebody is coming 
to live in the Brown house ? ” Louise asked, as 
they drew their chairs as close as possible to hers. 
At this time in the day she was their own special 
property, though there were people who complained 
that they always monopolized her. 

“ Yes, your father heard that a relative of old 
Mrs. Brown’s was going to take the house, but that 
is all I know,” she answered. 

“ Carl and Ikey saw a cross-looking woman with 
a feather duster. I do hope there will be some 
nice children,” said Bess. 

“All boys,” Carl added briefly. 

“ Boys ? No, indeed ! Girls are much nicer, 
are n’t they, Ikey ? ” and Louise looked at him mis- 
chievously over her shoulder. 

Ikey’s shyness or his politeness, perhaps both, 
would not allow him to reply. 

“ They are both nice when they are nice,” said 
Aunt Zelie. “ Being a girl myself, of course I like 
girls, and so does this individual,” patting the head 
against her shoulder. 

“ Oh, I like some girls ! ” Carl conceded graciously. 

“ I wish there would be a little girl for me to 
play with,” remarked Helen plaintively, for it was 
the trial of her life that she was considered too little 
to be made a companion of by the other children 
except on special occasions. 

“ It is a fortunate thing that the house is to be 
occupied,” said Aunt Z61ie, “ for Mr. Jackson, the 


10 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


agent, told Frank that it looked as if some one had 
been camping out in the garden. The grass was 
trampled down and I don’t know what damage 
done.” 

If she had not happened to be looking across the 
street she would have seen some guilty faces. Bess 
grew red, Louise opened her mouth and shut it 
again without saying anything, Carl drummed on 
the back of his chair with an air of extreme in- 
difference which Ikey tried to copy, and Helen 
looked from one to the other with very big eyes. 

The Fords’ tea bell, rung at the front door for 
Ikey’s benefit, relieved the strain. Then presently 
Louise saw her father and baby Carie coming up 
the street, and the Brown house was not mentioned 
again. 

As Aunt Z&Lie was on her way upstairs that 
night she was waylaid in the dimly lighted hall 
by three ghostly figures. 

“ What are you doing out of bed ? ” she 
exclaimed. 

“ Oh, auntie, we want to tell you something ! It 
is about the Brown house. We have been play- 
ing Robin Hood in the garden.” 

“ It was a lovely place, and we did n't do any 
harm, really.” 

Aunt Z61ie listened with just a little bit of a 
smile till she had heard the whole story. It had 
been great fun, there could be no doubt of that. 

“Was it wrong?” asked Bess anxiously. 


THE OUTLAWS. 


11 


“We did not hurt anything, not one bit,” Carl 
insisted. 

“ Why did you keep it such a secret? ” 

“ That was part of the fun ; but I wish we had 
told you,” said Louise. 

“ Yes, it is nicer to have you know things;” and 
Bess sighed, relieved now that confession was 
made. 

“ It is too late to discuss it to-night, but I want 
you to think about it and decide for yourselves 
whether or not it was right.” 

u Did you know it before we told you ? ” Carl 
asked suddenly. 

“ I only guessed it to-day,” she replied, smiling. 


12 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


CHAPTER II. 

IN THE STAR CHAMBER. 

There never lived a more genial, kindly man 
than old Judge Hazeltine, and the house he 
planned and built reflected, as perfectly as a 
house could, the character of its owner. 

44 The front door looks like the Judge,” people 
used to say, laughing as they said it, for he was 
portly and the door was wide. But they meant 
more than just that, for there were few, even among 
the unimaginative, who did not feel drawn to that 
door. Hospitality shone from every panel, the big 
fanlight was like a genial sun, and the resemblance 
to his cheery face and cordial manner was not alto- 
gether fanciful. 

Of the inside of the house perhaps it is enough 
to say at present that it kept the promise of the 
outside. 

After the judge’s death the old home fell to the 
share of the younger of his two sons, for the 
William Hazeltines had already built their fine 
mansion out on Dean avenue, where Aunt Marcia 
found things more suited to her fastidious taste 
than on the quiet street which had ceased to be 
fashionable. 


IN THE STAR CHAMBER. 


IB 


On the other hand, her brother-in-law declared 
that he much preferred his large garden and home- 
like neighborhood to the elegant monotony of her 
surroundings. The children agreed with their 
father, and so perhaps, for the matter of that, did 
Uncle William. 

At the top of the house there was a long low 
room, with five windows looking east, west, and 
south, which was known as the star chamber. 
This name had originated with Uncle William in 
the days when he and his brother Frank played 
and studied there, as Carl and his sisters did now. 
On rainy days when the garden was out of the 
question the children were most likely to be found 
here. 

It was a pleasant place and well suited for any 
sort of indoor game. Except for a rug or two the 
floor was bare, and the furniture consisted of an old 
claw-footed sofa on which at least six people could 
sit comfortably at one time, a wardrobe, some book- 
shelves, and a hammock swung across one corner. 
There may have been a chair or two, but the 
wide window-sills made pleasanter resting-places. 
Here in the summer time you looked out into the 
soft greenness of the maple trees, getting glimpses 
of the quiet street, but when the branches were 
bare a fine outlook was to be had all over the neigh- 
borhood, and you saw how big houses and little 
houses stood sociably side by side, while an old 
gray church kept guard at one corner. Here Bess 


14 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


and Louise romanced over an imaginary family 
known as “ The Carletons,” or played dolls with 
Helen, and here Carl arranged his stamp album 
and>made signals to Ikey across the street. Some- 
times their father and uncle would drop in and pre- 
tend they were boys once more. Then what delight 
it was to listen to their stories of boyish pranks ! 

Aunt Zelie was their most frequent visitor. The 
days when she kept her dolls and “ dressing-up 
things ” in the old wardrobe, which was now put to 
the same use by her little nieces, were not so very 
far back in the past, and many of her story books 
were still to be found on the shelves among later 
favorites. 

Going up to the star chamber on the morning 
after the excitement over the Brown house, she 
walked in upon an indignation meeting. 

“ Just when we wanted to play Crokonole ! ” 
u It is too mean ! ” 

“ She might let him come, it spoils all our fun ! ” 
This is what she heard, and she asked in surprise, 
“ What in the world is the matter ? ” 

There was silence* for a minute, during which the 
rain made a great pattering outside ; then little 
Helen, who was serenely busy with her paper dolls, 
replied, “ Ikey’s grandma won’t let him come over, 
’cause he took her fur rug and Sallie’s clothes- 
pins.” 

“ What did he want with the clothes-pins and 
rug?” 


IN THE STAR CHAMBER. 


15 


“We wanted them to play with, Aunt Zelie. 
You can do a great many things with clothes-pins,” 
Bess explained. 

“ Aleck was to have been King Richard — the rug 
was for him at the banquet ; and now he has n’t 
come and we can’t do anything,” said Louise mourn- 
fully. 

Aunt Z£lie sat down on the sofa and folded her 
hands in her lap. 

“ I should like to know how many of our things 
have been carried over to the Brown house gar- 
den,” she said. 

“ We took some of the straw cushions and two 
or three cups that Mancly said we might play with,” 
replied Bess, watching her aunt’s face anxiously. 
There was another silence, during which Carl 
became absorbed in a hook and Louise gave her 
attention to Helen’s dolls. Then Aunt Z6lie spoke : 

“ The more I think of this the more uncomforta- 
ble I feel about it.” 

“ I can’t see why,” came from Carl. 

“ Because it seems to me such a lawless proceed- 
ing. Do you know that there are people who say 
that no children were ever so lawless as American 
children to-day?” 

“ That is poetry, auntie ; you made a beautiful 
rhyme,” laughed Louise. But her aunt refused to 
smile. 

“ It is not pdifcry, but sad fact, I ’m afraid. You 
may not have done much actual harm, but you 


16 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


have shown no respect for other people’s property. 
You went into the Brown house garden without 
leave, and you encouraged Ikey to carry off his 
grandmother’s things without permission. I have 
trusted you all summer — I thought I could ; but 
this makes me afraid that you ought to have some- 
one with more experience to watch over you. You 
know when I came back to you two years ago I 
promised to stay so long as I could be a help to 
you, but — ” 

“ Oh, Aunt Z61ie ! You do help us — don’t go 
away ! ” cried Bess, clasping her around the waist ; 
Louise seized one of her hands tightly in both her 
own, and Carl looked out of the window with a 
flushed face. 

“ That is not fair, Aunt Z6Lie,” was all he said. 

He could never forget — nor could Bess — how 
she had come to them in their loneliness, and taken 
the motherless little flock into her arms, comforting 
them and wrapping them all about with her love 
and sympathy. How could they ever do without 
her ? 

“You aren’t going away, are you?” Helen 
asked, leaving her dolls and coming to her side. 

“ I hope not, for I can’t think what I should do 
without my children,” she answered. And then 
they all snuggled around her on the old sofa and 
talked things over. It was astonishing what a 
difference it made — trying to look at the matter 
from all sides. Even Mrs. Ford’s indignation did 


IN THE STAR CHAMBER. 


IT 


not seem so very unreasonable when you stopped 
to think how inconvenient it was to be without 
clothes-pins on Monday morning. 

“ I know it does not seem exactly right as you 
put it, Aunt Zelie,” Carl acknowledged, 44 but it 
was such fun, we couldn’t have had so good a 
time anywhere else.” 

44 Suppose you found the Arnold children play- 
ing in our garden some day, would you think that 
because they had found that they could n’t have so 
good a time anywhere else, it was all right? ” 

44 Why, auntie, those Arnold boys are not nice at 
all ; we could n't have them in our garden,” cried 
Louise. 

44 No one was living in the Brown house — it is 
different,” Carl began. 

44 1 know what she means,” said Bess. 44 Just 
because it is fun is n’t a good excuse.” 

44 That is it,” answered her aunt. 44 1 believe in 
fun if only you do not put it first, above thought 
for the feelings or property of others. I am sure 
you did not mean to do wrong, but it would not 
do for me to let you go on being thoughtless, 
would it ? ” 

44 Mrs. Ford is n’t a bit like you, Aunt Zelie ; she 
was dreadfully mad at Ikey, and said he must stay 
in his room all day,” remarked Louise. 

44 1 am sorry for Mrs. Ford. I rather think I 
should be dreadfully mad too, if I were in her 
place. She is an old lady and is used to having 


18 


THE BIG FRONT BOOR. 


her household affairs move on smoothly, and one 
day she finds her servants upset and some of her 
property missing, all because certain naughty 
children cared more for a little fun than for her 
comfort.” 

Aunt Z61ie spoke gravely, and her audience 
looked very much subdued. 

In the course of the day Joanna, one of the 
maids, was sent over to the Brown house to 
inquire about the things left by the children in 
the garden. She returned with the missing arti- 
cles, which had been carried into the house by the 
man who cut the grass. 

“Did you see anybody, Jo? Are there any 
children ? ” were the questions she met with. But 
she had only seen a middle-aged woman who was 
cleaning the hall, and had learned nothing about 
the new # occupants. 

“It is very stupid of Joanna,” said Carl as he 
rolled up the rug and the clothes-pins and marched 
over to apologize to Mrs. Ford for their share of 
the mischief. He did this so meekly and with 
such evident sincerity that the old lady was greatly 
mollified, and sent him up to tell Ikey he might 
consider himself released from the day’s confine- 
ment in his room. 

For the rest of the week the children were 
models of propriety. No one would have dreamed 
that they had been outlaws so short a time before. 

From the star chamber windows Robin and his 


IN THE STAR CHAMBER. 


19 


merry men looked down on the transformation 
which was taking place in their old domain. 

The long grass was cut down, and with it those 
patches of pepper grass that had seasoned many a 
feast. The bushes and vines were trimmed, the 
walk was reddened, the shutters were thrown open. 
Every day added something to the change, yet, 
besides the servants, no one had been seen about 
the house. 

Who could their new neighbors be? The 
subject was discussed morning, noon, and night, 
till their father said he would have to tell them 
the story of the man who made a fortune minding 
his own business. Uncle William, who was there 
at the time, said that probably the man was too 
stupid to enjoy his fortune after he made it, and 
he pretended to be willing to go over and inquire 
at the door, if Louise would go with him. 

“ At least we know there can’t be any children,” 
said Bess, “ for they could n’t stay in the house all 
the time.” 

“ Please tell us the story about the man, Father,” 
asked little Helen, and couldn’t understand why 
they all laughed. 


20 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


CHAPTER III. 

THE LADY OF THE BROWN HOUSE. 

Bang ! went the door, and away they rushed, 
like a small tornado, across the porch, down the 
walk and over the street. 

They seemed to be running away from Helen, 
for a second after they had vanished behind Mrs. 
Ford’s oleanders she came around the house. 

Indignant tears were in her eyes ; it was hard not 
to be wanted, to be thought too little to play with. 
Bess and Louise had such good times with the 
boys, and she had nothing in the world to do this 
afternoon. To be sure they had been very gracious 
all morning, and had even allowed her to listen to 
a thrilling chapter in the history of the Carle tons, 
but this was too good to last. 

At lunch certain signs passed back and forth 
across the table arousing her curiosity, and after- 
wards when she found them laughing on the stairs 
and begged to know what they were going to do, 
Carl had replied provokingly, “ What do you 
suppose?” and now they had run away with Ikey 
somewhere. The house was very quiet ; Carie was 
taking her nap, Aunt Z61ie dressing to go out. 
Helen sat down on the top step of the porch and 


THE LADY OF THE BROWN HOUSE. 21 

wiped her eyes, saying to herself, “ They are just 
as mean as anything, but I don’t care — I ’ll have 
a good time too. I think I ’ll ask Aunt Z<flie to let 
me go with her.” 

It happened that as the runaways reached the 
gate Aunt Marcia’s coup6 turned the corner, and 
her horrified eyes beheld their flight. When she 
stepped from her carriage her lips were firmly 
closed in a manner which indicated that they 
would be opened presently for somebody’s benefit. 
She was so absorbed that she almost fell over the 
woebegone little figure on the step. 

“ You have been crying — what is the matter?” 
she demanded. 

“ Oh, Aunt Marcia, I did n’t see you — please ex- 
cuse me,” said Helen, whose politeness rarely failed 
her, rising and putting away her handkerchief. Mrs. 
Hazeltine saw pretty clearly how matters stood. 

“Never mind, my dear,” she said; “perhaps you 
would like to take a drive with me. I am going out 
to Cousin John’s.” 

Helen was. her favorite among the children, be- 
cause she was quiet and demure, and did not tear 
and soil her clothes as Bess and Louise did. Helen 
on her part looked up to Aunt Marcia with deep 
admiration, and meant to he just like her when she 
was grown. So she ran off very happily to have 
her dress changed, while Mrs. Hazeltine waylaid 
Aunt Zelie as she came downstairs ready for a 
walk. 


22 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


“ Dear me ! the children have been in mischief,” 
was this lady’s inward exclamation, for she knew 
the signs of disapproval, and felt like running 
away, as she used to do when a child, from Sister 
Marcia’s lectures. 

She only sat down on the bottom step, however, 
and waited. 

“ How do you do, Zelie ? I see you are going 
out and I shall not detain you for more than a 
minute. Little Helen is coming to drive with 
me.” 

She seated herself in a judicial attitude on one 
of the high-backed hall chairs. 

“I do not wish to interfere,” she continued, 
“ but I should like to inquire if you know where 
the children are this afternoon ? ” 

“I have a general idea,” Aunt Zelie replied, 
slowly putting on her glove and reflecting that it 
would take more than her sister’s powers to be 
able to say at any given moment exactly where 
they were. 

“ I thought you did not know. They are run- 
ning through the streets, Louise without her hat. 
It may do for boys, but for little girls I think it 
disgraceful.” 

“ I told them they might go to the Fords’ ; they 
do not play in the street. You must have seen 
them when they were on their way there, and I do 
not object to their running.” 

Mrs. Hazeltine shook her head. u How can you 


THE LADY OF THE BROWN HOUSE. 23 

think it proper for Bess and Louise to race with 
the boys in that fashion? You seem to he con- 
scientious, yet you do not restrain them in the 
least.” 

“ I own I do not know how to make a difference 
between girls and boys. Why are they horn into 
the same families if they are not meant to play to- 
gether? And if they are to be strong and healthy 
they must be out of doors. I am sorry to seem to 
set my judgment up against yours, hut — ” 

“ You are stubborn, Zelie, like all the Hazeltines. 
I believe in fresh air as much as you do, but I 
should send Bess and Louise to walk with Joanna. 
However, I see it is of no use to talk to you. I 
should never mention the subject at all if I did 
not feel a deep interest in the children.” Mrs. 
Hazeltine rose. “ Here comes Helen,” she said, “ so 
I ’ll not detain you any longer,” and taking her 
little niece by the hand she sailed away. 

Meanwhile the culprits were taking breath on 
the grass in the Fords’ back yard, Ikey hospitably 
treating his guests to apples and salt. 

“I suppose,” Bess began, taking a bite of her 
apple, “ that it is rather mean to run away from 
Helen, but we have been very good to her to-day, 
have n’t we, Louise? ” 

“ Yes, we have ; and the more you do for her the 
more she thinks you ought to do.” 

“She can’t expect to go everywhere we go,” 
said Carl decidedly. 


24 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


The business on hand this afternoon was noth- 
ing more or less than the erection of a telephone 
which had been constructed by the boys out of 
fruit cans and pieces of old kid gloves. The main 
difficulty lay in getting their line across the street, 
for it was to communicate between Ikey’s room 
and the star chamber. An attempt had been 
made once before, but the result was such a morti- 
fying failure that their energy and interest flagged 
for a while. 

The trees caused most of the trouble. Their 
line first caught in one of these at such a distance 
from the pavement that while they were absorbed 
in getting it off a gentleman who happened to be 
passing had his hat suddenly removed. This acci- 
dent convulsed everybody but Bess, who in great 
embarrassment tried to explain that it was not in- 
tended for a practical joke. Finally it was caught 
and broken by the angry driver of a market wagon. 
Carl, who disliked to give anything up, had ever 
since been trying to think of a plan. 

44 There must be some way,” he said as he lay on 
his back looking up at the sky. 

44 1 know ! ” cried Bess, seized with an inspira- 
tion ; 44 clothes-props ! ” 

44 What about them?” asked Ikey doubtfully. 

44 It is n’t Monday, and anyway we can get ours — 
Mandy will let us have them,” Bess said reassur- 
ingly, and then she unfolded her plan. 

44 Is n’t she clever?” exclaimed Louise admiringly. 


THE LADY OF THE BROWN HOUSE. 25 


“ We ’ll try it, it may work,” said Carl, with mas- 
culine condescension. 

“ What in the world can those children be 
doing ? ” somebody wondered as she looked through 
the half-closed blinds of one of the Brown house 
windows a few minutes later. 

Mounted on a chair near the Fords’ front fence 
stood Bess holding aloft a clothes-prop, and looking 
like a small copy of “ Liberty Enlightening the 
World.” Through a groove in the top of the pole 
ran the line, one end of which was safely fastened 
in Ikey’s window. Louise had the rest of it in 
charge and slowly dealt it out as she crossed the 
street in front of Carl, who by means of another pole 
kept it elevated beyond all harm. Once over the 
street it was easily attached to a cord hanging from 
the star chamber, then slowly and cautiously Ikey 
pulled it up. Several times it caught in the trees, 
but a careful jerk sent it free, and at last it was 
safe. 

“ Three cheers for Bess ! It was her plan,” called 
Ikey from above. 

“ It really worked very well,” Carl acknowledged. 

“ I knew all the time it would,” added Louise, as 
they went inside to finish their work. 

The watcher in the Brown house window re- 
turned reluctantly to the book she had been read- 
ing, as though she found the bit of real life more 
entertaining. 

When all was done it was pronounced a success. 


26 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


Even though you could not hear so very distinctly, 
at least the bells fastened at each end tinkled most 
realistically when the line was pulled. 

As they came out of the side door at the Fords’ 
after inspecting Ikey’s end of the telephone, Louise 
catching sight of a ball which lay on the grass made 
a spring for it. The others rushed after her, there 
was a scramble that would have shocked Aunt 
Marcia beyond expression, and Carl getting posses- 
sion tossed it with all his might — he did not stop 
to think where. Alas ! it went over into the next 
yard and a crash of broken glass told the tale. 
They looked at each other in consternation, and 
Ikey ran and peeped through the fence. 

“You have broken one of the Brown house 
windows,” he reported. 

“It wasn’t all his fault, it was partly mine,” 
said Louise, who always stood by her friends in 
trouble. 

“ Oh, dear ! ” sighed Bess. “ Just when we were 
going to be so good ! What will Aunt Zelie say?” 

“ I ’ll have to go and tell them I did it, and that 
I ’ll have the glass put in,” said Carl. 

Louise at once volunteered to go with him, and 
Bess suggested, “ Let ’s all go.” 

Ikey did not like the plan exactly, but he would 
not have objected for the world. Louise tossed 
back her long braids and put on her hat, and the 
solemn little party started out. 

“ Whom shall I ask for ? ” Carl suddenly de- 


THE LADY OF THE BROWN HOUSE. 27 


manded, as they marched up the newly reddened 
walk. 

“Dear me! We don’t know the name,” gasped 
Bess, feeling inclined to turn and run. 

“ Never mind, just ask for the lady of the house,” 
said Louise, her courage rising to the occasion. “ It 
sounds beggarish, but you can’t help it.” 

Bess and Ikey retreated a little when the door 
was opened by a woman who asked somewhat 
gruffly what they wanted. 

Carl hesitated, so Louise in her politest manner 
inquired for the lady of the house. 

“ What do you want with her ? ” said the woman, 
eying them sharply. 

“We want to see her,” was the emphatic reply. 

“ Well, you can’t, then,” and the door would have 
been shut in their faces if a voice from inside had 
not called “ Mary ! ” 

She disappeared for a moment, then returning 
asked them in. 

Bess held Ikey’s hand tightly as they followed 
the others along the hall. To think of being inside 
the Brown house ! 

Before they had time to consider what they were 
to do or say, they found themselves in a quaint 
room with dim old portraits on the wall ; but all the 
children saw was a lady with white hair and bright 
eyes, seated in an invalid’s chair by the window. 
As Louise advanced timidly, followed by the others, 
this lady held out her hand, saying : 


28 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


“ Y ou wish to speak to me, Mary says ; I am very 
glad to see you.” 

They all felt reassured by her pleasant tone, and 
Louise found her voice. 

“We came to tell you that, while we were play- 
ing, Carl threw his ball and broke your window. 
It was partly my fault too, and we thought we 
would all come and tell you.” 

“ I am very sorry about it, and I will have a new 
pane put in,” Carl added. 

“ I am sure it was an accident,” said the lady, 
smiling ; “ you must not feel badly. I shall be glad 
of it if it helps me to make the acquaintance of 
some of my new neighbors. Won’t you tell me 
your names?” 

Louise’s dimples at once began to show them- 
selves, for she was always ready to make friends, 
and she gave her plump little hand, saying : 

“ I am Louise Hazeltine, and this is my brother 
Carl and my sister Bess, and Ikey Ford who lives 
next door.” 

“ We are much obliged to you for not minding 
about the window,” Bess added, forgetting her 
shyness. 

“ Won’t you sit down and talk to me for a while ? 
I am Miss Brown.” 

The children smiled at each other. “We have 
always called this the Brown house,” Carl 
explained. 

“ Then you won’t have to change. It is much 


THE LADY OF THE BROWN HOUSE. 29 


simpler than if I had happened to be named Green 
or Black, is n’t it? ” said their new friend, laughing. 
“ And now I am sure you can’t guess what I call 
your house.” 

Of course they could n’t, so she told them that 
she had named it the house with the Big Front 
Door. 

This amused them very much, and Louise asked, 
“ How did you know we lived there ? ” 

“ Oh, I have seen you going in and out. I can’t 
move about easily, so when I grow tired of reading 
or sewing I look out of the window.” 

It was astonishing how much at home they 
felt. Bess and Louise sat together in a big chair 
chattering away as if they had known Miss Brown 
all their lives. When she asked about the tele- 
phone, even I key had a word to say as they grew 
merry over the story of their difficulties. 

As they were leaving, Besg said demurely, 
“ Miss Brown, I think we ought to tell you that we 
have been playing in your garden. We didn’t 
mean to do any harm, but Aunt Z61ie says it was n’t 
respecting other people’s property.” 

“ My dear children, I wish you would come of- 
ten and play in my garden,” was the hospitable 
reply. 

“ I am afraid your Mary would n’t like it,” said 
Louise; adding quickly, “and we’d rather come 
inside now and see yon.” 

“Thank you, I hope you will come, and you 


30 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


must excuse poor Mary; she is not so ill-natured as 
she seems.” 

“Aunt Z61ie,” said Carl that evening as they 
were relating the day’s adventures, “ Miss Brown 
is tiptop, she was n’t a hit mad. There is some- 
thing about her like you.” 

“ Why, Carl ! Her hair is white, and she is not 
nearly so pretty,” cried Louise. 

“ Well, goosie, I did n’t say she looked like her, 
did I?” 

“ She is very nice at any rate, and has lots of 
things to show us some time — things she had 
when she was a little girl. We may go to see her 
again, may n’t we, Auntie ? ” Bess asked. 

“ Do you think she would like me to go to see 
her?” Helen inquired. 

“ Probably she would n’t mind ; we will take 
you sometime,” Louise replied graciously. 

Helen had returned from her drive in a happy 
frame of mind, for Aunt Marcia had bought her a 
charming little card-case, and had ordered some 
engraved cards to go in it. Her sisters admired it 
as much as its proud owner could desire, and were 
quite attentive all the evening. 

“ Mary,” said Miss Brown that night, “ those are 
nice children ; and just think ! I already know four 
of my neighbors ! ” 


DORA. 


31 


CHAPTER IV. 


DORA. 

One afternoon, when the interest in the Brown 
house was still at its height, and before the chil- 
dren had made the acquaintance of their new 
neighbor, a little girl came slowly up the street 
carrying a sun-umbrella. 

A hush had fallen upon the neighborhood ; 
nobody was to be seen, and the only sound not 
made by the birds and insects was the far-away 
click and whirr of a lawn-mower. 

She had had a long walk and was tired ; a car- 
riage-block under the maple trees offered a pleasant 
resting place, so, closing her umbrella, she sat down. 
She had a pair of frank gray eyes and a smile that 
made you feel at once that she was a cheery little 
person, accustomed to make the best of things. 

“ How still it is ! ” she said to herself. “ I wonder 
if some wicked fairy has put everybody to sleep ? I 
wish I might go into their houses and break the 
spell. And here comes an enchanted prince,” she 
continued, laughing at the fancy, as a large black 
cat came across the street in a leisurely, sleepy 
way. 

The gray eyes seemed to inspire his confidence, for 


32 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


the victim of enchantment stopped to rub against 
her dress. 

“ Pretty old kitty, you are somebody’s pet,” she 
said, softly touching the glossy head. 

He could have told her that some one in the 
neighborhood was awake. In fact, two individuals 
had invaded the shady spot where he was taking 
his nap, and persisted in tickling his ears with grass 
till he was obliged to leave. He did not mention 
this, however, only arched his back and purred a 
little, and then, as if he suddenly remembered 
important business, trotted off through the bars of 
the gate and up the walk leading to a large house. 
The observer on the carriage-block thought it the 
most attractive house she had ever seen. Every- 
thing about it told of pleasant times : the tennis 
net, the hammock under the trees, the broad piazza, 
and, most of all, the wide front door which seemed 
to invite her to come in and see what sort of people 
lived behind it. “ I wonder who lives here. I wish 
I knew. I believe I ’ll follow the cat and find out,” 
she thought merrily. 

“ At this moment the door opened and two little 
girls appeared, all in a flutter of dainty blue ruffles. 
Each carried a cushion, and one had what looked 
like an atlas under her arm. 

“ Shall we sit on the porch, Bess ? ” asked the 
one with yellow hair. 

“ Oh, no, Louise, don’t you think it will be pleas- 
anter under the chestnut tree?” the brown-haired 


DORA. 


33 


maiden said ; and then they came across the grass 
and settled themselves under the horse-chestnut, 
the branches of which met those of the maple tree 
that cast its shade over the carriage-block. They 
were quite unconscious of the wistful eyes that 
watched them as they bent over the atlas, from 
which Louise took some large sheets of paper. 

“ How pretty they are ! I wish I knew them,” 
the owner of the eyes said to herself. Then, feel- 
ing rather shy in the presence of these charming 
little persons who might look around presently and 
wonder what she was doing there, she rose and took 
up her umbrella. 

She could n't help lingering a little, for she wanted 
very much to know what they were going to do. 
Standing where she was shielded from their view by 
a bush that grew in the fence corner, this is what 
she heard : 

“ We haven’t played the Carletons for ever so 
long; do begin,” urged Louise. 

“ I think Lucy ought to be married,” said Bess ; 
“ she is eighteen, you know, and I suppose people 
are generally married when they are so old as that. 
Then a wedding will be such fun ! ” 

“ Yes, indeed, and she has been engaged to Edwin 
Graves a long time.” 

“ Well, her father and mother have at last con- 
sented, though they wanted her to marry an English 
earl, who was madly in love with her.” 

“ I am glad I finished the new house in time,” 


84 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


said Louise, holding up a drawing which represented 
the interior of a lofty mansion. But go on about 
the earl.” 

“She met him at the queen’s palace, where all 
the English young ladies were in love with him, but 
he thought Lucy the most beautiful of all. She did 
not care for him, though, because she loved Edwin 
and had promised to marry him. Even though he 
had n’t so much money, she said she would rather 
marry a free-born American than any haughty 
earl.” 

“ That is very interesting,” said Louise, admiring 
the patriotic sentiment, “ but do you suppose if she 
didn’t marry Edwin he would die of a broken 
heart? ” 

“But she is going to marry him,” said Bess, 
refusing to consider the question. 

“ And now we will skip the getting ready part and 
have the wedding. It is a beautiful cloudless night 
in June, and there are roses everywhere; the house 
is filled with them.” 

“ I ’ll put them in while you are telling it,” 
suggested the artist. 

Bess assented to this and continued, “ Lucy is 
dressed now, and she is the most beautiful bride 
anyone ever saw.” 

“ Do you remember Aunt Zelie’s wedding ? ” 
asked Louise. “Cousin Helen says she was the 
prettiest bride she ever saw.” 

“Not very well. I don’t remember how she 


DORA. 


35 


looked, but I think she is the most beautiful person 
in the world now.” 

“ Oh, yes, so do I ! ” 

The wedding then went on without interruption 
for a while. 

“ Lucy is tall and stately, her eyes are blue as 
the sky, and her hair is long and golden. She 
speaks very softly, and has the sweetest smile, 
and she walks like a queen. Her dress is white 
silk and beautiful lace, with a long, long train, 
and she wears diamonds and carries a bunch of 
roses.” 

“ Now tell about Edwin Graves, Bess.” 

“ Men are a great deal harder to do,” said the 
story-teller with a sigh. 

“ Let me, then, for I know exactly how he looks,” 
and, clasping her hands around her knees and gaz- 
ing upwards, Louise began : “ He is very tall and 

grand-looking, his eyes are black, and his voice is 
very deep.” 

At this interesting point Bess exclaimed, 
“Louise, here comes Uncle William, and I know 
he is going to take us driving ! ” 

The listener, who had forgotten everything but 
the story, came to herself with a start. “ How 
dreadful of me ! ” she said, walking away very 
rapidly, while the story-tellers ran out of the gate 
to greet a tall gentleman who had just driven up. 

“ I suppose they are sisters,” she thought, look- 
ing back once more before she turned the corner. 


36 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


“ How nice it must be to live in a house like 
that. Bess and Louise ; I wonder what their last 
name is.” 

Louise was busy with her drawing one morning, 
comfortably established in a shady corner of the 
porch, when her aunt called to her : 

“ I wish you would keep an eye on Carie while 
Joanna goes on an errand for me.” 

“ I will, Aunt Zdlie,” she responded promptly. 

It was not likely her . charge would give her 
much trouble, for Carie' was quite capable of 
entertaining herself, and was at that moment prom- 
enading back and forth with an old parasol over 
her head, pretending she was going to market. 

“ Don’t go on the grass, baby ; it is wet,” 
cautioned Louise, by way of showing her authority, 
and then returned to the new mansion for the 
Carletons upon which she was working. She soon 
became so absorbed in this that she forget to look 
up now and then. 

Meanwhile Carie talked busily to herself, gestic- 
ulating with one small forefinger. But after a 
little she grew tired of filling her basket with 
grass and leaves, and stood peeping out through 
the bars of the gate. How much more fun it would 
be to go to the real market where she had often 
been with Joanna ! She knew perfectly well that 
she was not allowed outside by herself, but that 
did not make it seem any less attractive. With a 
cautious glance over her shoulder she softly pulled 


DORA. 


37 


the gate open, and in a moment more was flying 
up the street. When she reached the corner she 
turned to the right and slackened her pace, feeling 
very important and grown up as she bobbed merrily 
along under her parasol. 

“ Where are you going, little one ? ” asked a man 
who passed her. 

She gave him a roguish glance as she answered, 
“ To martet.” 

At the next corner she turned again to the right, 
safely crossing the street, but here everything was 
unfamiliar and she began to feel timid. Then she 
suddenly saw a very large dog coming toward her. 
He was so large she thought he must be a bear, 
and, with a frightened scream, she turned to run, 
but tripped over her parasol, and fell, a forlorn little 
heap, on the sidewalk. 

“What is the matter? Are you hurt? You 
mustn’t be afraid of the dog; he is good, and 
does n’t bite.” 

These reassuring words were spoken by a girl 
of eleven or twelve, who helped her up and brushed 
off her dress. 

“ What a darling you are ! ” she added, as Carie 
lifted her big blue eyes, all swimming in tears, 
saying, “ I fought it was a bear.” 

“ No, indeed ; he is only a nice old dog who lives 
next door to me, so I know all about him. Now 
tell me where you are going all alone ? ” 

“ I runned away,” was the honest answer, “ and 


38 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


I dess yon better take me home,” she added, look- 
ing up confidingly into the pleasant face. 

“ Then you must tell me what your name is and 
where you live.” 

Carie could tell her name, but to the other ques- 
tion could only answer, “ Over there,” pointing in 
the wrong direction with great assurance. Her 
companion was puzzled ; she felt certain some one 
was alarmed at the disappearance of this dainty 
little midget. 

“ I ’ll ask Mrs. West if she knows anybody near 
here named Hazeltine,” she said. “ Come in and 
sit on the doorstep till I find out something about 
you.” 

She was back in a moment. “ I think I know 
now, you dear little thing ! It must be that lovely 
house I saw the other day.” 

For some minutes after Carie’s flight Louise 
worked on, then remembering her charge she dis- 
covered her absence. She ran to the gate and 
looked up and down the street, she searched the 
garden and the house, and finally burst in upon 
Aunt Z61ie, crying : 

“ I have lost her ! I have lost her ! ” 

The news spread in a moment; nothing else 
could be thought of till the lost darling was found. 

Carl ran in one direction, Sukey in another, and 
Bess flew -over to ask if by any chance Miss Brown 
had seen the runaway. Louise stood on the porch, 
the picture of misery. 














t 
















<* 














« 













f 






































» 





















5 













t 


DORA. 


39 


“You will never trust me again, never” she 
sobbed as her aunt came out and stood beside her, 
looking anxiously up and down. 

“ I am sure you won’t be so careless another 
time,” Aunt Z61ie said, pitying her distress. 

At this moment who should turn the corner but 
the small cause of all the excitement, chatting 
away to her new friend, quite unconscious that she 
was giving anybody any trouble ! 

“ Why, Carie Hazeltine, where have you been ? ” 
cried Louise, dryingdier eyes and running to meet her. 

“ I found her on Chestnut street — a dog had 
frightened her,” her companion explained, reluct- 
antly releasing the plump hand she held. 

“ You are a naughty girl,” said her sister, taking 
possession of her. “ You might have been run 
over, or something dreadful.” 

“I didn’t det run over,” Carie insisted indig- 
nantly. 

“ Well, say good-by, and ‘thank you for taking 
care of me.’ We are all very much obliged to you,” 
Louise added, turning to the stranger. Carie held 
up her mouth for a kiss, and then allowed herself 
to be led away. 

“ At any rate I know their name is Hazeltine,” 
said Carie’s friend to herself. 

The culprit was soon in a fair way to think she 
had done something very funny and interesting, 
people made such a fuss over her, so Aunt Z61ie 
carried her off to be solemnly reproved. 


40 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


“ I suppose you are going to the party to-morrow, 
aren’t you?” asked Elsie Morris, a neighbor and 
friend, who had been helping in the search. 

“ Of course,” answered Bess. “ I am glad you 
came home in time, Elsie ; Aleck is going to stay 
in and go with us.” 

“ There are to be fireworks and lanterns and all 
sorts of things,” observed Aleck, who lay at his 
ease in the hammock. 

“Yes, I know,” said Elsie, “and everybody is to 
have a — I don’t know what you call it — some- 
thing to remember the party by. Annie May told 
me herself.” 

“ How nice ! It will be almost like Christmas,” 
said. Louise. 

“ Not like one of Uncle William’s parti es* 
though,” put in Carl. 

“ School begins next week, and three months of 
pegging before Christmas,” groaned Aleck. 

“ Come on, then ; let ’s make the most of the time 
we have,” Carl urged energetically. 

It was the afternoon of the next day, and Louise 
stood before the mirror critically viewing her sash. 

“ Why, Joanna ! You have made Bess’s bows ever 
so much longer than mine.” 

“I can’t see what difference that makes,” was 
the rather sharp reply, for the September day was 
warm and. the task of dressing three restless ypung 
ladies for a party was not conducive to coolness. 

“It makes a great deal of difference to us, for 


DORA. 


41 


we wish to look exactly alike,” said Louise loftily. 
“ And if you are going to do a thing at all, you 
ought to do it well; Father says so.” 

“ Dear me ! Here comes Ikey, and we are not 
ready,” exclaimed Bess, who stood at the window. 

“ You might be if you weren’t so particular. I 
never saw the beat of your equal,” and Joanna 
whisked Helen’s dress over her head. 

“ The beat of your equal,” Bess repeated. 
“ What does that mean, Jo?” 

“ My patience ! ” was the only reply to be had 
from this much-enduring maid. 

“Joanna is cross ; I ’ll get Aunt Z61ie to tie my 
sash,” said Louise, running off, followed by Bess. 

Their aunt was in the lower hall with Ikey, who 
was looking dignified, if not a trifle stiff, in a new 
standing collar. Louise decided that he needed a 
rose in his buttonhole, and danced away to get one 
when her sash had been arranged to her satisfaction. 

Though there was more than a year’s difference in 
their ages, Bess and Louise were exactly the same 
height, and were sometimes taken for twins. This 
delighted them beyond measure, and to help the 
impression they wished to be dressed alike, down 
to the smallest detail. 

Though Bess’s hair curled prettily she insisted 
on wearing it in two braids, because that was the 
only comfortable fashion in which her sister’s heavy 
locks could be arranged. Aunt Zdlie laughed at 
them, but let them have their way. 


42 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


Carl and Aleck were the last to appear, which 
Bess thought was very strange, considering they 
had no sashes to be tied, or hair to be curled or 
braided. 

“Now trot along and have the best kind of a 
time,” said Aunt Zelie after she had inspected them, 
and given some finishing touches to their cravats; 
“I am proud of my girls and boys.” 

They were a merry party as they started out, 
waving their good-bys, Ikey feeling particularly 
proud to be counted one of her boys. He only 
half wanted to go, for, though sociably inclined, 
he was bashful, but the girls had promised not to 
desert him. 

Carl affected to hold parties in disdain. “They 
never do anything worth while ; who cares for 
4 drop the handkerchief ’ or dancing ? ” 

When Louise mischievously suggested that he 
must be going for the supper, he strolled ahead 
with an air of lofty scorn. 

The occasion was a birthday party, an outdoor 
affair, and the large yard was hung with Japanese 
lanterns ready to light when the sun went down. 
As the children came flocking in with their bright 
faces and gay ribbons, it was a pretty scene. 

There were swings and all sorts of games, and 
soon everybody was busy having a good time. 
Even Carl forgot that he did not like parties. But 
there ivas one person who seemed to be left out of 
the fun. Stopping to rest after some lively game, 


DORA . 


43 


Bess noticed a girl sitting on a bench all by her- 
* self. She looked lonely, and Bess felt sorry for 
her. 

44 1 think I ought to go and speak to her ; won’t 
you go with me, Elsie ? ” she asked. 

44 No; I’d rather not. I think she is funny- 
looking.” 

44 But I am afraid she does not know anybody.” 

44 Well, it is not our party; why doesn’t Annie 
May take care of her ? ” And Elsie smoothed her 
pink ribbons complacently. 

Bess was shy, and thought she could not go by 
herself to speak to a stranger. 44 1 ’ll wait till I see 
Louise,” she said. 

44 Who is that girl?” some one asked the little 
hostess. 

44 Her name is Dora Warner,” was the reply. 
44 Mamma knows her mother. They have n’t lived 
here long. I have tried to introduce her, but no- 
body wants to talk to her, and she does n’t know a 
single game. I wish Mamma would come and take 
care of her.” 

The stranger sat alone looking on at the merry 
scene. She felt timid and unhappy, and had to 
wink very hard now and then to get rid of a 
troublesome mist that found its way to her eyes. 

44 1 am silly I know ; I ought not to expect to get 
acquainted all at onee,” she said to herself bravely. 

If it had not been for the loneliness she might 
have enjoyed the fun going on around her, even 


44 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


though she had no part in it. Such dainty dresses, 
such laughing and dancing about, such airs and 
graces, she had never before seen ! She recognized 
the charming little girls who had so taken her fancy 
a week or two before — sisters, she felt sure, of 
that dear little Carie. 

“ Oh, dear ! ” she said at last ; “ I can’t help 
wishing I had not come ! ” 

Not thinking what she was doing, Dora took up 
a croquet mallet which had been left on the bench, 
and began slowly to screw it into the ground. 
Just then a boy rushed by hotly chased by another. 
The one in pursuit tripped on the mallet and fell 
headlong on the grass. 

“ Are you hurt ? I am so sorry ; I did not mean 
to do it ! ” she exclaimed in dismay. 

“No, I am not hurt,” he replied, sitting up and 
rubbing the stains off his hands with his handker- 
chief. “ How did you come to do it anyhow ? ” 
and he gave her a glimpse of a pair of merry brown 
eyes, and then went on polishing his hands. 

“ I don’t know,” she answered. 

“If it had not been for you I could have caught 
Aleck.” 

“ I am so sorry,” Dora said again, in such a 
mournful tone that the boy laughed. 

“ You need n’t think I care ! Aleck knows I can 
catch him. Do you like to run ? ” 

“ I have n’t tried it very often lately. I think 
you could catch me,” she answered. 


DORA. 


45 


“ I probably could ; as a general thing girls are n’t 
much on running, but you should see Louise ! ” 

“ Who is she ? ” asked Dora. 

“ She is my sister ; I thought everybody knew 
Louise.” 

“ I don’t know any one,” was the reply in a 
mournful tone. 

“ Don’t you really? ” Carl asked, sitting up very 
straight ; “ and is that the reason you are over here 
by yourself ? ” 

“ I know Annie a little, but you see I have n’t 
lived here since I was a baby. We have been 
travelling about a good deal, so I have n’t had a 
chance to know many people. Mamma wanted me 
to come this afternoon.” 

There was something exceedingly pleasant in her 
straightforward manner. 

“ I don’t care much for parties myself,” said Carl, 
“ but if you want to get acquainted you must not 
stick in a corner.” 

“ What must I do ? ” Dora asked, smiling. 

“Well, to begin with, you make friends with 
somebody who knows somebody else, and so on. It 
is very easy.” 

“ Then I have begun with you, though I do not 
know your name.” 

“ Very well, here goes ! My name is Carl Hazel- 
tine, the girl over by the oak tree is my sister 
Louise, the boy with her is Isaac Ford — the one 
who is laughing I mean; next to him is Elsie 


46 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


Morris, and that fellow coming this way is Aleck 
Hazel tine, my cousin, and — ” 

Dora put out her hand appealingly. “ I can’t 
possibly remember so many, and I have n’t told 
you my name. It is Dora Warner.” 

“We used to have a cat named Dora,” Carl 
remarked gravely, taking a small round glass from 
his pocket and composedly surveying his necktie, 
“ a nice, white, meek little pussy cat.” 

“ I had a dog once, when we were in London, 
named Carl — o. He was a curly dog and ever so 
vain when we tied a ribbon on his collar,” was the 
prompt response. Then they both laughed merrily, 
and Carl asked with friendly interest, “Were you 
really in London ! ” 

“ Yes, we were there last winter.” 

“ Was n’t it great fun ? ” 

“ No, for papa was ill, and mamma always with 
him, so I was lonely.” 

Something in Dora’s tone made Carl notice that 
her sash was black.” 

“ So I suppose her father is dead,” he thought, 
but could think of nothing to say, and jumping up 
suddenly was off like a flash. 

Dora thought her new acquaintance a funny one, 
but his friendly manner had made her feel cheerful 
again. 

She saw him coming back presently, accompanied 
by a little girl with soft dark eyes and a sweet 
face which she recognized at once. 


DORA. 


47 


“ This is my sister Bess,” he announced. 

Bess sat down beside her, saying gravely, “ Carl 
says you don’t know anyone. Wouldn’t you like 
to come and play with us ? We are going to begin 
a new game.” 

Dora was quite ready. “Only I am afraid I 
shall not know how,” she said. 

“ That won’t make the least difference, for we 
haven’t any of us played it before. It is very 
easy — just throwing bean-bags,” and, taking her 
hand in a friendly clasp, Bess led her toward a 
gay group that was all in an uproar over some of 
Aleck’s nonsense. 

“ Here comes that odd-looking girl,” whispered 
Elsie to Helen. “ Just see what a plain dress she 
has on ! ” 

“ Why, you are the girl who brought our Carie 
home yesterday, are n’t you ? ” cried Louise, as Bess 
introduced Dora. 

“ Are you really ? She has been talking about 
you all day. Carl, it was Dora who found Carie,” 
Bess exclaimed delightedly. 

From this moment the charmed circle was open 
to her. Dora could hardly believe she was not 
dreaming. To be taken into the midst of all the 
fun under the protection of her new friends — to 
find herself suddenly popular ! What could have 
seemed more incredible half an hour before ? 
Louise, who was a born leader, and whose bright 
face and sunny temper made her a general favorite, 


48 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


took her in charge, and Dora entered so heartily 
into the game, laughing so merrily at her mis- 
takes, that her companions began at once to like 
her. 

“ Gome, Elsie, are n’t you going to play ? asked 
Bess. 

“I don’t know how,” was her reply, in a fretful 
tone. 

“ It is perfectly easy,” said one of the others. 

“ Never mind ; she does n’t know beans,” laughed 
Aleck, tossing a bag to Dora. 

“ I know you are very rude,” pouted Elsie. 

“ Do play,” urged Dora, running to her. “ I will 
show you exactly how,” and half reluctantly she 
yielded, for she really wanted to play. Before they 
were through the game, supper interrupted, and 
gave them something else to think about. 

Mrs. May, remembering the stranger and com- 
ing to look for her, concluded that she was quite 
able to take care of herself, for she seemed to be 
having an extremely good time. 

A good time truly it was, Dora thought, as she 
sat among her new friends. 

“I am so glad we are acquainted with you,” 
Louise said. 

“I am sure I am glad,” she answered, “and I 
do hope I shall see Carie again sometime. There is 
one thing I must tell you,” she continued. “ The 
other day I walked by your house, and I was so 
tired I sat down on your carriage-block to rest. 


DORA. 


49 


It was very quiet, and nobody was in sight, and I 
was sitting there thinking how very big your front 
door was — ” 

“ How did you know it was our house ? ” asked 
Bess. 

“ I didn’t then, but presently the door opened 
and you two came out. You had on blue dresses, 
and Louise had a book, and you came and sat under 
a tree not very far from me.” 

“ Why, we did n’t see you ! ” 

“ I know you did not, and, of course, I ought to 
have gone away, but ” — here Dora’s face flushed 

— “I could n’t help hearing the beginning of 
your story, and then I forget what I was doing 

— it was dreadful ; I want you to know about it — 
I listened to all you said.” 

“ How funny ! And we did not see you ! Why, 
Dora, we don’t care a bit, do we, Bess?” 

“ I am very glad if you don’t. I was so 
ashamed of myself. I hoped some day I should 
know you, but I did not think it would happen so 
soon,” and Dora heaved a sigh of relief. 

“ But is n’t it funny that you should have found 
Carie ? ” said Bess. 

“And then have tripped me up,” added Carl, 
joining them. “It is really as curious as our get- 
ting acquainted with Miss Brown.” 

“ Who is Miss Brown?” asked Elsie. 

“ She is a person who has lately moved into Not- 
tingham castle,” he replied gravely. 


50 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


“ Robin Hood broke one of her windows,” added 
Aleck. 

“ What does he mean ? I don’t understand it at 
all,” fretted Elsie, who was so easily teased the boys 
could never resist the temptation. 

“ Carl is talking nonsense. I will tell you about 
her sometime,” said Bess. 

“ Good-by, Dora,” said Louise when the happy 
evening was over and they were starting home. “ I 
think we ought to be friends because you found 
Carie ; don’t you, Bess ? ” 

Bess certainly thought so, for she had taken a 
desperate fancy to this new acquaintance. 

“ You must come to see me; Helen and all of 
you,” Dora said cordially. 

“ Mamma, I have had a beautiful time, I am glad 
I went,” she exclaimed, standing beside her moth- 
er’s couch a few minutes later. “ Does your head 
ache ? Then I ’ll wait till to-morrow to tell you 
about it ; ” and she went to bed to dream pleasant 
dreams. 


UNCLE WILLIAM. 


51 


CHAPTER V. 

UNCLE WILLIAM. 

W hen the children reached home that evening 
they found Aunt Marcia and Uncle William in the 
library. 

Carie, too, was there, bent on an investigation of 
her uncle’s pocket, from which she had just brought 
to light in triumph a chocolate mouse. 

“Now, baby dear, you must go to bed, mammy 
is waiting for you,” said Aunt Zelie. 

“ Let me find one uzzer one,” pleaded Carie, de- 
positing her prize on her uncle’s knee, and continu- 
ing the search. 

“ Of course you have had a 4 perfectly lovely ’ 
time,” said Uncle William as the party-goers 
entered. 

“ Indeed we have,” answered Louise, establish- 
ing herself on an arm of her father’s chair. “ And 
we ’ve found the nicest girl,” she added. 

“ I found her,” said Carl. 

“ She is the girl who brought Carie home yes- 
terday, and we like her very much,” explained 
Bess. 

“ Annie May has n’t any politeness ; she did n’t 
introduce her to more than one or two people. 


52 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


Think of being at a big party like that and not 
knowing anyone ! ” 

“ That is not a proper way in which to speak 
of yonr hostess, my son,” said Mr. Hazeltine. 

u How did you happen to get acquainted with 
her?” asked Aunt Zelie, smiling at Carl’s vehe- 
mence. 

“Auntie, it was the funniest thing you ever 
heard of ! ” Louise exclaimed. “ She tripped him 
up with a croquet mallet ! ” 

“ She must have been desperate,” remarked her 
father, pulling one of the long braids that hung 
over her shoulder. 

“ She did not mean to do it — it was when I was 
running after Aleck — and she was very sorry. 
Then I found she did n’t know anybody, so I went 
for Bess, and she had a good time after that,” Carl 
explained briefly. 

“ She has lived in London, and different places 
abroad,” Bess added. 

“ May we go to see her, auntie? We told her we 
would if you ’d let us.” 

♦ “ Louise, you should never promise to visit people 
till you know something about them,” said Aunt 
Marcia reprovingly. 

“ Her name is Dora Warner, and she boards with 
her mother at Mrs. West’s on Chestnut street, and 
her father is dead. I think we know a good deal 
about her, Aunt Marcia,” Bess said demurely. 

“ I am going to see her, and take her a chocolate 


UNCLE WILLIAM. 


* 53 

mouse,” Carie suddenly announced, having been a 
silent listener while she captured a handful of 
mice. 

44 I want to know what it is you like so much 
about your new friend,” said Uncle William. 

44 What do you think of her, Helen ? ” his wife 
asked of the little girl, sitting so quietly beside her. 

44 Oh, I like her, Aunt Marcia, ever so much. 
She asked me to come to see her, and she is older 
than Bess.” 

44 There is no nonsense about her,” said Carl. 

44 1 think it is hard to tell why you like people.” 
Bess twisted her handkerchief meditatively. 44 She 
isn’t exactly pretty, but she is pleasant and 
polite — ” 

44 Yes, and she is ready to do anything, and 
doesn’t think about her clothes,” Carl interposed. 

44 Boys think about their clothes as well as girls,” 
said Louise. 44 1 know lots of girls who don’t think 
about their clothes.” 

44 So do I — some who have no regard whatever 
for them,” said Aunt Zdlie, laughing. 

44 Do you know I like the description they give 
of Dora,” remarked Mr. William Hazeltine, after 
the children had left the room. 

44 1 never knew Carl to be so warm in the praise 
of a new acquaintance,” said his brother. 44 You 
will have to let them go to see her, Z&Lie.” 

44 Pray, do not be rash ; find out who they are 
first,” begged Mrs. Hazeltine. 


54 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


“I can’t help thinking,” said her husband, “that 
this little girl may be the daughter of my old 
friend Dick Warner ; you remember him, Frank? 
He died about a year ago, somewhere abroad. As 
bright and sweet-tempered a fellow as ever lived ! 
I must look into it.” 

Uncle William usually had his own way about 
things, for the reason that no other way was so 
pleasant. No one could resist his bright face and 
cordial manner. He carried around with him an 
atmosphere of such hearty goodwill that it was next 
to impossible to be cross or gloomy in his presence. 
People sometimes wondered" how he happened to 
marry Mrs. Hazeltine, but the reason was plain 
enough to him. He regarded her with the greatest 
admiration, feeling that a harum-scarum fellow like 
himself was most fortunate in having such a wife 
to keep him straight. He was very proud and fond 
of her, and quite blind to what others called her 
managing propensities. Sometimes, indeed, he 
wondered how she could be so severe in her judg- 
ment of the children, but then someone must be 
firm. And though she was often annoyed by his 
friendliness with all sorts of odd people, and 
wished William would draw the line somewhere, 
she always ended by saying leniently that he 
would never be anything but a boy. 

He had a warm love for children. No matter 
how ragged and forlorn they might be, they inter- 
ested him. The newsboys and bootblacks felt that 


UNCLE WILLIAM. 


55 


he was their friend, and many were the treats they 
received at his hand. By his young relatives and 
their many friends he was looked upon as a sort of 
every-day Santa Claus. One of his peculiarities 
was a love for surprising people. He sent myste- 
rious parcels, left candy about in unexpected 
places, or took the children out for a walk, and 
then whisked them off on some delightful excur- 
sion. 

Promptness was another of Uncle William’s good 
qualities. Having determined to make inquiries 
about his old friend, he did it at once, and so it 
happened that Dora and her mother were called 
down to the parlor one day to see a tall gentleman 
with kindly dark eyes and iron-gray hair, who won 
them at once by his simple, cordial manner. 

Mrs. Warner was a thoroughly saddened woman 
since the death of her husband, but even she could 
not resist his friendliness, and Dora was altogether 
captivated. 

The children were surprised and delighted when 
they heard that their uncle had been to see the 
Warners, and that Dora was really the daughter of 
his old friend. 

“ So of course we ought to be friends with her,” 
Bess remarked, as though it was a solemn duty 
rather than a pleasure. 

Aunt Zelie allowed them to go to see her at once, 
and invite her to spend the next day with them. 

“ Don’t things happen beautifully, Mamma ? ” 


56 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


Dora said gayly, as she dressed that morning. 
“ To think that I really know Bess and Louise, and 
am going to see them ! ” 

Her mother smiled sadly ; she was glad her 
daughter had found such pleasant friends, for she 
knew that their quiet life was making her old for 
her years. 

So Dora, in a flutter of delight, found herself 
following in the footsteps of the hlack cat, up the 
walk leading to the Big Front Door. And there 
on the porch, stretched at his ease, was that gentle- 
man himself, apparently waiting for her, for he 
rose to meet her, and arched his back, and purred 
with great friendliness. 

Then the door opened and she was inside, but 
before she could look around her, three little girls 
came flying down the stairs and laid violent hands 
upon her. Talking very fast, and quite breathless 
with laughing, they took her up to the dainty 
room — all blue and white — which Bess and 
Louise called theirs, where she took off her hat. 
Next she had to be presented to Aunt Zelie, from 
whom she received a welcome which made her feel 
at home from that minute. And then to the star 
chamber, where they found Carl, who was very glad 
indeed to see Dora again. One morning was really 
too short for all there was to be said and seen. 

Dora was interested in everything : stamp albums, 
photographs, dolls, and most of all in the story 
books. 


UNCLE WILLIAM. 


5T 


“ You must take 4 The Adventures of Robin 
Hood ’ home with you,” Carl insisted when he 
found she had not read it, and then the others 
began to press their favorites upon her until she 
was quite overwhelmed. 

She must look over at the B.rown house garden, 
and hear about their new neighbor, and about Ikey 
Ford, and how tiresome his grandmother was. 
These confidences were interrupted by Carie, who 
walked in, eager to see the girl who had found her, 
and other attractions faded before the delight of 
holding this dainty bit of humanity on her lap. 
Nothing could be so charming, Dora thought, as 
she kissed the rosy cheeks and soft hair, and listened 
to her funny chatter ; for Carie, who was not given 
to showing favors indiscriminately, treated her 
with unusual graciousness, bestowing chocolate 
mice with a lavish hand. 

44 You ought to be the best children in the world, 
for you have everything,” Dora said as they went 
down to lunch. 

44 Oh, we are ! ” modestly replied Carl. 

When this was over she was taken into a large 
room full of books and beautiful things, among them 
two portraits. One of these was of a white-haired 
man whose eyes seemed to smile at her as Bess said, 
44 This is Grandfather ; ” the other face had some- 
thing about it so like Bess’s own that her low-toned 
explanation, 44 This is Mamma,” was not needed. 

After all, they had not quite everything. 


58 THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 

Wlien Carl went over to see Ikey about some- 
thing, they seized the opportunity to play the 
Carletons, it being a game that the masculine 
mind scorned. They sat under the same chestnut 
tree, and the black cat joined them, and was for- 
mally introduced to Dora as Mr. Smith. Everything 
was quiet in the neighborhood, somebody was cut- 
ting the grass not far away, and it really might 
have been mistaken for that afternoon two weeks 
ago, except that the girl who was then on the 
carriage-block was now in the garden. To make 
the resemblance complete, who should drive up but 
Uncle William, calling to know if anybody wanted 
to go to the country. 

The Carletons were promptly consigned to the 
seclusion of the atlas, while the romancers ran for 
their hats. 

It was almost dark when Dora was set down at 
her own door, merry and rosy. 

44 Good-by ! and do ask your mother to let you go 
to our school,” her friends called, waving their 
handkerchiefs as they turned the corner. That 
happy day settled it. Dora and the Hazeltines 
became fast friends. Everybody liked her, the 
grown people as well as the children. Even Aunt 
Marcia pronounced her a most well-behaved little 
girl, and hoped Bess and Louise would profit by 
her example. Carl claimed the credit of having 
discovered her, and Carie always referred to her as 
44 My Dora.”. 


THE MAGIC DOOR. 


59 


CHAPTER VI. 

THE MAGIC DOOR. 

When Miss Brown said of the Big Front Door 
that it made her cheerful simply to look at it, she 
had no idea, nor had anyone else, how much was 
going to grow out of it. 

First of all was the story Uncle William told one 
stormy Sunday evening before the wood fire in the 
library. 

It had been a trying day to the children, with 
the rain coming steadily down, their father away, 
and Aunt Zelie sick with a cold. Perhaps it was 
not to be wondered at that by afternoon they had 
grown “ cantankerous,” as Sukey expressed it, and 
that something very like quarrelling had gone on 
in the star chamber. 

This was all forgotten when the early tea was 
over, and they gathered around the fire with Uncle 
William in father’s arm-chair. 

The shadows were dark in the corners of the 
room, but the soft wavering light gilded every- 
thing within reach, touching Grandfather’s portrait 
with its gentle magic, till he himself seemed to be 
standing there, smiling and about to speak. The 
young faces turned to Uncle William were full of 
quiet content. 


60 


THE , BIG FRONT DOOR. 


“ Do you know what Miss Brown has named our 
house ? ” Bess asked. “ She calls it the house with 
the Big Front Door.” 

“ That is a very good name and reminds me of a 
story.” 

“ Oh, please tell it,” they all begged, and so with- 
out preface Uncle William began : 

“ Once upon a time a man built a house. He 
selected the materials with greatest care, and 
watched every brick, stone, and beam used in its 
construction, that everything might be strong and 
good. But it was to the front door that he gave most 
thought. This was of oak after a design of his 
own, and was wide and massive, with hinges of 
wrought-iron and a dragon’s-head knocker. Some 
of his neighbors admired it, others found fault with 
it, objecting that it was out of proportion and too 
large for a dwelling-house. But after a while they 
discovered that it was more than an ordinary door. 
There was some magic about it ; it shed a radiance 
over the whole neighborhood. People when they 
were perplexed would look towards it, and presently 
their doubts would fade away. Those who were 
despondent or sorrowful were cheered and com- 
forted by the sight of it. In stormy weather it Avas 
like a small neighborhood sun. And no one rejoiced 
more than its owner in the strange power of the 
door, for he had a heart full of love and goodwill, 
and he and his children were constantly doing 
kindnesses to their neighbors. They were a happy 


THE MAGIC DOOR. 


61 


family too among themselves, and the reason seemed 
to be because they lived in the radiance of the 
magic door. 

44 At length, to the sorrow of his friends, this good 
man died. In his parting instructions to his chil- 
dren he warned them that tbe door might sometime 
lose its power, and if its hinges should ever become 
rusty, or its lock hard to turn, he directed them to 
a certain iron box where they would find a key 
which, if used according to the directions attached, 
would soon restore it. This made little or no im- 
pression upon them at the time, for, since the oldest 
of them could remember, the door had been always 
the same, and it seemed improbable that it would 
ever change. They missed their father sadly, but 
for a time continued to live as they had when he 
was with them. However, as the months passed, 
all unconsciously at first they began to neglect their 
duties ; to forget the acts of neighborly kindness 
they had once been so glad to perform ; and saddest 
of all, they fell to quarrelling among themselves. 
Then one day they could not open the door, try as 
they would. Rust was discovered thick upon its 
hinges, and while they were wondering how this 
could have happened, some one brought word that 
complaint was general in the neighborhood that the 
door had lost its magic power. The children looked 
at one another in dismay, till one remembered the 
iron box and went in search of it. When it was 
found and opened in the midst of the family there 


62 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


was in it simply an ordinary key with a card tied 
to it, and on the card were written these words : 
‘They helped every one his neighbor.’ 

“ They were for a time at a loss to understand, 
when one wiser than the rest spoke : ‘ Do yon not 
see,’ he said, ‘ that it was the spirit of helpfulness 
that made our home happy, and gave our door its 
strange power? We have neglected our father’s 
teaching; have been selfish and unloving, and so 
are no longer a blessing to ourselves or others.’ 

“ Each felt in his heart that this was true, and 
with one accord they made up their quarrels ; one 
went to visit a sick neighbor, another carried a 
coat to a poor man and food to his children, and 
in various ways they tried to begin over again, 
and live as their father had lived. Then happiness 
returned to their home, the key slipped easily into 
the lock, the door opened wide once more, and 
gradually regained its old power. So not only were 
they happy themselves, but they kept alive the 
memory of their father, whose name was loved and 
honored by all who came within the radiance of 
the magic door.” 

There was silence for a few minutes ; then Bess 
asked, “Was Grandfather the man who built the 
house ?” 

Uncle William smiled. 

“You must find the moral for yourselves, but I 
acknowledge that Miss Brown put the idea into 
my head.” 


THE MAGIC DOOR. 


63 


“And you told it because we were cross this 
afternoon, I know,” said Louise wisely. 

“ Suppose Miss Brown could tell when we are 
bad just by looking at the door ! ” Carl suggested, 
laughing. 

“ It would be dreadful,” said Bess soberly. 

“ But it is n’t true about our door, is it? ” Helen 
asked. 

“ Of course not, goosie,” replied her brother. 

“Put it the other way, and suppose that Miss 
Brown could tell when you are kind and unselfish, 
that would not be dreadful,” said their uncle. 
“ And I forgot to say,” he added, “ that the key 
in the story is warranted to work like magic any- 
where. It was a favorite text of your grand- 
father’s. When this house was built I was a little 
boy, hardly as old as Helen, but I remember dis- 
tinctly the first time I went through it. I was 
very much delighted, and came running down the 
steps, calling, 4 Oh, father, what a nice house this 
is ! ’ and he replied, 4 1 am glad you like it, Will- 
iam. It is only a house now, but we are going, to 
try to make it a home.’ I don’t think I quite 
understood what he meant till long afterwards, 
though he went on to explain that a home is a 
place where love, obedience, and helpfulness grow, 
and are stored up as the water is stored in Quarry 
Hill reservoir, to find its way out into the world 
after a while, carrying comfort and cheer. 

44 Your grandfather did all he could to make this 


64 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


house a real home while he lived, and now the 
responsibility rests upon you.” 

“ I truly mean to remember the key, and try to 
be a helper,” said Bess, finding and marking the 
text in her own Bible, at Uncle William’s sugges- 
tion. “ I like that part about the radiance of the 
magic door,” she added. 

“ It is easy enough to talk about it, but it ’s not 
so easy to be good,” said Carl with emphasis. 

“We are not here to do easy things, and, as 
Bess says, we can all try,” Uncle William replied, 
“ and now we have had a sermon, let us have some 
music before I go.” 

“ Let ’s tell Dora about the magic door ; perhaps 
she would like to help ! ” said Louise, as she and 
Bess went upstairs to bed. 


1 key's accident. 


65 


CHAPTER VII. 
ikey’s accident. 

The days grew shorter and cooler, the leaves 
began to flutter down, and each morning, from her 
sitting-room window, Miss Brown watched the 
children start for school. 

First the little girls, tossing good-by kisses to 
Aunt Zelie, ran down the walk to join Dora or 
Elsie ; then a few minutes later Ikey was at the 
gate whistling for Carl. In the five months since 
Ikey had come to stay with his grandparents the 
boys had become almost inseparable. 

Dr. Isaac Clinton Ford was a surgeon in the 
navy, and having been ordered to the Mediterra- 
nean, his wife, whose health was not good, followed 
him, with their little daughter, while young Isaac 
was sent to his father’s old home. Warmly at- 
tached to it himself, Dr. Ford could think of no 
better place for his son, and old Mr. and Mrs. Ford 
felt that it would be almost like having their boy 
again, from whom they had had only brief visits 
for eighteen years. 

Unfortunately, neither took into account that 
young Isaac was totally unlike the quiet, studious 
boy his father had been. It was a question which 


66 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


suffered most during those first weeks, the 
elderly people whose lives had moved on like 
clockwork for so many years, or the mischievous, 
fun-loving boy suddenly introduced into their 
household. 

The Fords’ was a tall, three-story, stone front 
house, with everything about it inside and out in 
immaculate order. The stone steps and walk were 
spotless, the windows shone, and the shades and 
curtains were arranged in the most exact manner. 
The only flowers were three oleanders in tubs, 
and these partook of the general tidiness. 

It is easy to see that a boy without any deep 
regard for spotless stones, who labored under the 
delusion that windows were made to look out of, 
and who did not hesitate to push curtains aside and 
open blinds, who whistled when his grandfather 
was taking his nap, left his things lying about, and 
teased the snappish old pug was destined to be a 
trial. On the other hand, the change from a free 
and easy home life, with a mother as merry-hearted 
as himself and a father who was more of a boy at 
forty than he had been at twelve, to that humdrum 
routine would have been trying to wiser people 
than Ikey. 

No wonder the first weeks were full of miserable 
homesickness. Life would have been unendurable 
if the Hazeltines had not discovered him. Ikey 
was ready to meet them more than half way, and 
before long became their boon companion. 


I KEY'S ACCIDENT. 


67 


Mrs. Howard, the children’s aunt, guessed how 
matters stood, for she had lived across the street 
from the Fords most of her life ; so she went to his 
grandmother, and asked her to let Ikey play with 
Carl and the little girls every day. 

Mrs. Ford consented, feeling surprised and grati- 
fied ; and unwilling to be lacking in hospitality, she 
allowed her grandson and his friends the freedom 
of the back yard, on condition that they would 
respect the front. Before the summer was over 
she had become so used to the sound of the chil- 
dren’s voices that she no longer found it necessary 
to go to the window every five minutes to see what 
they were doing. 

Ikey had a genius for getting hurt. Cuts, 
bumps, and bruises were matters of every-day 
occurrence, and were accepted with a heroism born 
of long familiarity. But one morning when he 
and Carl were on their way to school he met with 
an accident which was unusually hard to bear. 

As they were passing a high board fence they 
heard a great barking and growling, as if a lot of 
dogs were tearing one another to pieces. “ What 
in the world ! ” exclaimed Carl, trying to find some 
crack or knothole. 

a You can’t see in that way,” Ikey cried scorn- 
fully, and giving a spring he grasped the top of the 
fknce and drew himself up to look over. 

Exactly how it happened he could never tell ; 
probably his curiosity was resented, for before he 


68 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


had time to see anything, some sharp teeth made 
themselves felt, and he dropped down groaning, 
“ My nose ! My nose ! ” Carl was very much 
alarmed at sight of the blood that streamed down 
from his face, but had presence of mind to remem- 
ber a doctor’s office in the next block. 

Your nose is n’t all gone, is it?” he asked anx- 
iously, as he led the way. 

“ No, I think there is some of it left,” came in 
muffled tones from the handkerchief Ikey held to 
his face. 

Fortunately the doctor was in and dressed the 
wound, pronouncing it not serious, but advising 
his patient not to be in such a hurry to investigate 
strange dogs another time, or he might lose the 
whole of his nose instead of only a slice. 

Relieved that it was no worse, and not being in 
the habit of making a fuss over his hurts, Ikey 
decided to go on to school. 

Perhaps if he could have looked in the glass he 
would not have been so ready, for the yellow plas- 
ter did not add to his beauty. 

Now all danger was over, Carl could not contain 
himself, but laughed and laughed till his friend’s 
feelings were somewhat hurt. 

They were late of course, and created a sensation 
when they entered, and the suppressed amusement 
among the boys became an uproar at recess. It 
was decidedly trying to be the object of so much 
school-boy wit ; to hear over and over again : “ Ikey, 


1 KEY'S ACCIDENT. 


69 


what ails your nose ? ” — “ Can’t you wear it in a 
sling ? ” — “ Or put a shade over it ? ” — or to see on 
the blackboard lines adapted from Mother Goose : 

“ It used to be a blackbird, so the story goes, 

But now it is a puppy dog that nips off his nose/’ 


He stood it bravely till school was over, but on 
the way home, at sight of the girls on the corner 
he made a sudden dive across the street. 

“ Where is Ikey going?” Louise asked, in sur- 
prise, of Carl and Aleck. 

“ He has lost his nose,” answered the latter. 

“Has he gone to look for it?” laughed Dora. 

“Tell us what you mean,” said Bess. 

With much laughter the boys told the story. 

“ It is mean of you to make fun. Suppose it 
was your nose ? ” and Louise held on to her own. 

“ Perhaps it won’t turn up any more,” suggested 
Bess. 

“ I am afraid he won’t go to the ball-game ; that 
will be too bad,” said Carl. 

They were all going with Uncle William to see 
a game of foot-ball that afternoon, and there was 
only time for a hasty lunch before they started. 
Carl ran over to beg Ikey to go in spite of his dis- 
figurement, but a melancholy voice from the third- 
story landing declined so positively that there was 
nothing left to be said. 

From behind the curtains Ikey watched the 


70 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR . 


party start off, and felt very unhappy at not being 
with them. 

That was a miserable afternoon ! His grand- 
mother’s exclamations and questions had only made 
matters worse, and he took refuge in his room, 
declining to eat any lunch. 

Before long he succeeded in convincing himself 
that nobody cared for him, except, perhaps, his 
father and mother, who were so far away. 

Maybe the others would be sorry when he died 
of hydrophobia. He had heard that people often 
had it when they were bitten by dogs, and it 
seemed very probable that this would be his fate. 

Absorbed in his misery, he hardly knew how time 
passed, till some one knocked at his door. He lay 
on the couch with his face buried in the pillows, 
and thinking it was the housemaid he said, “ Come 
in,” without looking up. 

The hand that touched his head, however, was 
not Katie’s, nor the voice that said, “You poor 
boy ! ” 

It was Mrs. Howard, or Aunt Zdlie as he always 
called her in his thoughts. 

Overwhelmed with mingled delight and dismay, 
he could only struggle to a sitting position, with 
his handkerchief to his nose and not a word to say. 

She did not appear to notice this, but talked on, 
and in some way it came about that presently his 
aching head was down on the pillows again, and 
her soft hand was smoothing back his hair, just as 


IKEY'S ACCIDENT. 


71 


Mamma did, while she told him that Mr. Hazeltine 
had inquired about the dogs, and found that they 
were only very large and lively puppies, not at all 
vicious. 

Ikey heaved a sigh of relief, and managed to 
thank her for her thoughtfulness. Then they 
talked of other things, and he actually lit the gas 
— for it was growing dark — that she might see 
the photographs of his mother and sister. 

Before Aunt Z61ie left they were even laughing 
together over his funny accident, and when with a 
kiss on his forehead she was gone, it was a much 
happier boy she 'left on the sofa. 

There was sure to be a tonic in her petting, and 
Ikey got up and washed his face, looking bravely 
in the glass meanwhile. Then he went meekly 
downstairs and enjoyed his dinner. Mrs. Ford 
never petted anyone, she did not know how ; but 
she showed her sympathy by offering her grandson 
all sorts of good things to eat. 

At the most exciting moment of the foot-ball 
game Louise exclaimed: “ We have n’t done any- 
thing to help Ikey, and he is really and truly our 
neighbor ! ” 

“We will try to find something to take him,” 
said Uncle William. 

There was little to be had in that part of the 
town, so they turned it into a joke, and it was a 
most remarkable collection that Carl and Aleck 
displayed in the Fords’ sitting-room that night. 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


n 


There was a toy balloon, a beetle that ran all over 
the room in a life-like manner, a jumping jack, and 
some popcorn balls. 

Old Mr. Ford declared he had not laughed so 
much in twenty years as he did at the antics of 
the boys and the beetle. His bedtime passed before 
he knew it. 

Ikey went to sleep with the balloon tied to the 
head of his bed, feeling that after all his friends did 
care. The next day the doctor' replaced the ugly 
yellow plaster with something white that was more 
pleasant to look at, and in a short time his nose 
was as well as ever, except for a slight scar. 

Bess had thought of giving a masquerade ball in 
his honor, to be held in the star chamber, and at 
which he was to appear as “ The Man in the Iron 
Mask,” but owing to his rapid recovery it was 
given up. She was rather disappointed, for it 
seemed an interesting way in which to help a neigh- 
bor in affliction. She and Louise were very anxious 
to be helpers, but were not content with small every- 
day opportunities. 

“ I can’t think of things as Dora does,” she com- 
plained to Aunt Zfflie one evening. 

“ What has Dora been doing?” her aunt asked. 

“ Oh, it was at school to-day, when we were read- 
ing together at recess in a new story book of Elsie’s. 
There was Elsie and Constance, Dora, Louise and 
I, and that meek little Mamie Garland kept walk- 
ing up and down looking at us. Nobody likes her, 


IKEY'S ACCIDENT . 


78 


because she is a telltale. Then before we knew 
what she was going to do Dora jumped up and ran 
after Mamie, and asked her if she didn’t want to 
hear the story. You could see she was surprised, 
but she came, and Louise made room for her.” 

“■ And did she spoil the story ? ” 

“No — not really, but it is nicer to have just 
the people you like. But I suppose it is pretty mean 
to go on haying a nice time when somebody else 
is n’t — even if you don’t like them — and not 
ask them.” 

Aunt Zdlie smiled at this remarkable sentence. 
“ It is easy to be selfish with our good times,” she 
said ; “ but don’t be discouraged, you will be more 
quick to see an opportunity next time. If I am 
not mistaken I saw a little girl put away her book 
to play with her small sister not so very long ago.” 

“ Do you think that would count ? ” Bess asked 
earnestly. 

“ I certainly do,” answered her aunt, pinching the 
rosy cheek. 


74 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


CHAPTER VIII. 

THE M.KS. 

Bess stood at the window, her brows drawn 
together in a decided frown. Not that the sunshine 
was dazzling; quite the contrary. It was what 
Aunt Sukey called a drizzle-drazzle day. The air 
was full of a penetrating mist that put outdoor 
amusements out of the question. Stormy Satur- 
days were particularly trying, and to-day the rain 
interfered with an expedition to which the children 
had been looking forward for a week. 

“ 1 wish I were a fairy,” said Louise, who sat on 
the floor building a block house for Carie ; “ I 
would n’t have any rainy days.” 

“ A mighty nice world ’t would be, I reckon, 
if you had the fixin’ of it,” Sukey remarked 
sarcastically. 

“ Oh, well, perhaps I ’d have some rain, but 
only at night.” 

“Don’t you s’pose the good Lord knows what 
kind of weather is best for us a heap better than 
a no-account fairy?” Sukey continued, seeing an 
opportunity for some moral teaching. 

“ Of course he does, but 1 should n’t think one 
Saturday would make much difference.” 


THE M.KS. 


75 


“ That ain’t for ns to say. Folks can’t have all 
they wants in this world, and they has to be taught 
it.” 

“ Louise, I see Miss Brown at her window ; don’t 
you think it would be nice to go to see her? ” said 
Bess. “We could wear our waterproofs.” 

“ Yes, indeed ; may we, mammy ? ” asked Louise, 
jumping up. Though Sukey professed to be a stern 
disciplinarian she rarely denied the children any- 
thing, so after a careful survey of the weather she 
thought they might go if they would wear their over- 
shoes. Miss Brown saw them as they came out of 
the door and raised a big umbrella. “ Where can 
they be going?” she wondered as they disappeared 
from her view. A few minutes later, however, 
they came in sight again, this time on her side of 
the street, and stopped at her gate. 

“You are a pair of rainy-day fairies!” she ex- 
claimed as they entered. They both laughed at 
this, and Bess explained that it was just what 
Louise had been wishing to be. 

“ Then we each have our wish, for I have been 
longingfor some good fairy to cheer me this glcomy 
day.” 

Miss Brown’s sitting-room was a pleasant place 
even on the darkest day. A bright fire burned in 
the grate behind the high brass fender, some yel- 
low chrysanthemums bloomed in the west window, 
the mahogany chairs and tables shone with the 
polish time gives to such things, and behind the 


76 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


glass doors of the corner cupboard stood rows of 
pretty old china. From above the mantel, old Mrs. 
Brown — at the age of eighteen, with stiff little 
curls over each ear and immense leg o’ mutton 
sleeves in her low-necked pink gown — looked 
down, smiling impartially upon everybody. 

“Don’t you think rainy days are tiresome?” 
asked Louise, seating herself in the window beside 
the flowers. 

“Not when I have company,” was the smiling 
reply. 

“ Aunt Zelie has been staying with Cousin Helen 
this week, and Carl went home with Aleck yester- 
day, and we were going out to spend the day to-day 
and come home with them. But of course we 
could n’t on account of the rain, and there is no- 
body at home but Carie and Sukey, for Helen is at 
Aunt Marcia’s.” The tone in which Bess spoke 
was so doleful it was almost tragic. 

“ Uncle William says there is always a bright 
spot somewhere, and perhaps there is for us, but 
we have n’t found it,” added Louise ; then looking 
across the street she gave a little laugh. “ I was 
just thinking of the Magic Door,” she explained. 

Miss Brown wanted to hear about it, so Bess 
told the story, growing quite cheerful as she pro- 
ceeded. 

Miss Brown was more pleased with it, if possible, 
than Dora had been. She said it explained why 
she was so contented and happy in her new home. 


THE M.KS. 


77 


“ My old aunt left me this house with all its 
contents on condition that I would occupy it. At 
first it seemed out of the question, but the more I 
thought of a home of my own the more I wanted 
to try it, and now I feel settled for life ! You 
see,” she went on, 44 how beautifully it came about 
this afternoon. Here I was feeling stupid and a 
little lonely ; I looked at the Big Front Door, and 
presently it opened and you came out and straight 
over here, to make me cheerful again.” 

The children beamed on her with faces that said 
plainly : “ Here is an appreciative person.” 

At this moment who should appear but Mary, 
with a plate of warm spicy cookies ! The climax 
of sociability was reached ! 

“ Miss Brown, is it hard to knit ? — to learn, I 
mean,” Louise asked presently, looking admiringly 
at the bright wools the lady was working with. 

44 Not at all ; I learned when I was a little girl.” 

44 1 should like to know how, it is such pretty soft 
work,” said Bess. 

44 1 shall be very glad to teach you. We might 
have a knitting class for rainy afternoons.” 

44 And after a while perhaps we could make an 
afghan for Uncle William!” cried Louise delight- 
edly. 44 Wouldn’t that be fun, Bess ? ” 

44 If it would not be a trouble to Miss Brown.” 

44 It would be a great pleasure to me,” she 
answered, smiling at the bright faces. 

44 It would be nice — ” Bess began. 


78 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


“ Well, dear, what?” as she hesitated. 

“ I don’t know whether I ought to ask you, for 
it might be a bother to you, but I was thinking how 
nice it would be to have a club, and ask Dora and 
Elsie.” 

“ Bess, that is a lovely plan ! ” exclaimed her 
sister. 

Miss Brown thought so too, and said if the others 
would like it she should be glad to have them, and 
she suggested that they bring their friends to talk 
the matter over on the next Saturday afternoon. 

In discussing the club Bess and Louise forgot 
their disappointment, and were astonished to find 
how late it was when Joanna came for them. 

“ There was a bright spot, after all,” said Louise 
as they were putting on their waterproofs. “If 
we had gone to the country we might never have 
thought of the club.” 

Some days later the postman had three most 
important notes to deliver to Miss Dora Warner, 
Miss Elsie Morris, and Miss Constance Myer. 

This is the way they read : 

You are requested to be present at the Brown house next 
Saturday afternoon, to organize a knitting club. Please come 
early. 

Truly yours, 

Bess Hazeltine. 
Louise Hazeltine. 

Much time and thought were expended on these 
invitations, and the importance of the senders was 


THE M.KS. 


79 


only equalled by the curiosity and interest of the 
girls who received them. 

Aunt Zelie insisted that five were as many as 
Miss Brown ought to have. “For you know she 
is not used to such lively young ladies as you and 
Elsie and Do — ” 

“Not Bora , Auntie!” cried Bess; “she is per- 
fect, and never makes a noise.” 

Mrs. Howard laughed, and went to see the lady^ 
of the Brown house, fearing she was undertaking 
too much for her strength. 

But Miss Brown was quite sure of herself. 

“ If you knew how like spring sunshine they are 
in my sober life, you would see that it can only be 
a benefit to me,” she said. 

“ Of course I think they are dear children, but I 
may be partial,” their aunt replied, smiling. 

“ I discovered one secret of their attractiveness 
some time ago — they are fortunate children,” and 
Miss Brown looked admiringly into the sweet face 
before her. 

Promptly at three on Saturday afternoon the 
invited guests appeared. They were a little shy 
and silent at first after Bess introduced them to 
their hostess, but this wore off very quickly at the 
sight of five pairs of needles with the knitting 
already begun in bright worsteds. 

Dora, who had learned to knit in Germany, was 
made assistant teacher, and for an hour they worked 
away diligently. 


80 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


Then Miss Brown said they had done very well 
for beginners, and that it was time to stop and 
decide upon a name for their club. 

The work was hardly put away when Nannie, 
the new maid, came in, bringing some of Mary’s 
delicious cakes, and chocolate which was served in 
the oddest little cups brought by Miss Brown’s 
grandfather from India when she was a child. 
Chocolate had never before tasted so good. 

“ Did you have tea parties with them when you 
were a little girl, and never break any of them ? ” 
Constance asked with wide-open eyes, for she 
had broken half a dozen tea-sets in her short life- 
time. 

“You did not think then that when you were 
grown up you would give some other children 
chocolate in these cups, did you ? ” said Dora. 

“ If we should keep our things I wonder if they 
would be as funny and interesting to us when we 
are grown up ? ” Bess fingered one of the cups 
admiringly as she spoke. 

“ I never feel as if I ’d care for things when I am 
old,” said Elsie. 

“ I can remember when I used to feel so too, but 
it is a great mistake. Now I enjoy things which I 
have had for a long time, more than I do new ones. 
When I use my tea-set I always think of the days 
when my cousin Margaret and I used to play to- 
gether.” 

“ Could n’t you tell us about it, Miss Brown ? — 


THE M.KS. 


81 


about your cousin and when you were a little 
girl? ” asked Louise. 

“Please, if it is not too much trouble,” added 
Bess. 

They all looked so eager she could not refuse. 

“ There is really not much to tell,” she said. 
“ Thirty years ago little girls were not very differ- 
ent from those I see now, though we had not 
half so many toys and books. 

“ This cousin and I lived with our grandmother. 
Margaret was a year younger than I, and a delicate 
child, while I was strong and well then. My father 
and mother died when I was a baby, and my grand- 
mother’s house in Philadelphia is the first place I 
remember. Margaret did not come to live with us 
till she was six years old. Her mother too was 
dead, and her father spent most of his time abroad. 
She used to talk a great deal of her home in the 
South, for she did not like the city, but longed for 
the country and the warm climate she was used to. 
I remember the stories she told me after we were 
in bed at night. Sometimes they were in rhyme 
and always about her beautiful southern home. 

“Our grandmother was good to us, but she was 
strict too, and every day for an hour we sat beside 
her learning to sew and knit. Instead of going to 
school we had a governess. We took our exercise 
in the open square opposite our house, where there 
were trees and grass, and, best of all, squirrels. 
This tea-set which my grandfather brought to me 


82 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


the year before Margaret came to live with us was 
my greatest treasure, and I thought it a great treat 
to be allowed to play with it. When I was ten 
years old Margaret and I had measles, and one day 
when we were nearly well grandmother left us to 
go to a funeral. Our house servant happened to 
be sick, so there was no one in the house, besides our- 
selves, but the cook. Telling us on no account to 
leave the warm room, grandmother drove off. Then 
Margaret began to wish that we had asked to have 
the tea-set. I knew where it was kept and volun- 
teered to get it, for it was mine and I thought I had 
a right to it. 

“ Next we began to wish for something to eat. 
The spirit of naughtiness possessed me, I think, for 
I determined to go downstairs and find something. 
I stole down to the dining-room, where I found 
nothing but bread — which we did not want — and 
doughnuts. I carried back half a dozen of these, 
and we had our feast. 

“ Before we finished grandmother came home. 
When we heard the carriage we had a great time 
getting the crumbs out of the way, and the dishes 
put in their place. In my hurry I dropped a cup 
and cracked it. 

“ When grandmother came in she found every- 
thing as usual, but that night Margaret was very 
ill ; she had a relapse and came near dying. N o doubt 
the doughnuts had something to do with this, and 
perhaps the excitement also. I confessed how 


THE M.KS. 


83 


naughty I had been, and my grandmother was very 
kind, for she knew how I loved Margaret, and how 
I should miss her if she died. However, she recov- 
ered, but I had the broken cup to remind me of my 
disobedience. It is there among the others now.” 

“ Thank you for telling us,” said Dora as the 
cup was passed around. 

“ Is Margaret alive now?” Bess asked. 

“ Yes, indeed; she is married and living in Eng- 
land, and has three great boys and one little 
daughter. And now let us find a name for our 
club.” 

It was difficult to suit everybody, till after a good 
deal of discussion Dora made a suggestion. 

“ Suppose we have a name not like any we ever 
heard of, and call ourselves the Merry Knitters.” 

Nobody could find any objection to this, so it 
was accepted. 

“ For we want to be knitters and we mean to be 
merry,” said Louise. 

■ “ And let ’s not tell the boys what M.K. stands 
for,” proposed Elsie. 


84 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


CHAPTER IX. 

A RIVAL CLUB. 

It was the next Saturday afternoon, and Carl, 
Aleck, and Ikey sat in the star chamber busily 
discussing something. 

“ There they go ! ” Ikey exclaimed ; and the 
others, looking over his shoulder, saw the M.Ks. 
filing up the Brown house walk. 

“ They think they are so clever,” growled Aleck. 
Carl raised the window and called : “ Never you 
mind, we ’ll get even ! ” 

“ We don’t care,” answered Elsie. 

u You are welcome to,” cried Dora gayly, waving 
her work-bag. 

“You’d better not lean out so far,” cautioned 
Bess, and then the door closed behind them. 

As the girls had hoped, the boys were wildly 
curious about the mysterious letters “ M.K.” They 
made a great many absurd guesses, and Carl finally 
nicknamed it the “ Club of Many Kinks,” which he 
thought sounded like girls. But they only laughed, 
and would n’t tell. 

He tried to bribe Louise, or to extract it unawares 
from Bess. Aleck went to the length of offering 
Elsie a box of candy if she would give him so 


A RIVAL CLUB. 


85 


much as a hint, and they united their efforts upon 
Aunt Zelie, all to no purpose. Now they had 
come to the conclusion that the only thing to do 
was to start an opposition club, and in their turn 
arouse the curiosity of the girls. 

Mrs. Howaifcl sat in her own little study, a room 
over the front door, where she kept her special 
treasures, and was most likely to be found when she 
was at home. She was busily sorting letters and 
bills when Carl’s face appeared at the half-open door. 

“ May we come in ? ” he asked. 

“ Who are ‘we’?” 

“ Oh, only Aleck and Ikey,” and he ushered in 
his companions without further ceremony. 

“ If you don’t object to my going on with my 
work, I shall be glad to have you,” she said. 

“ Can’t we help you ? ” asked Aleck politely, 
dropping down among the cushions on the couch. 

“No, I thank you, and please have some mercy 
on my hew pillow.” 

Ikey, who admired pretty things, rescued the 
dainty white and yellow pillow, and modestly 
helped himself to a footstool. 

“ Take the floor, Carl, it is the only safe place,” 
murmured lazy Aleck. 

“ Somebody take it, please, and tell me the object 
of this call.” 

“We want to get even with the girls,” began 
Carl, as his aunt leaned back in her chair, all 
attention. 


86 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


“ They think themselves so clever with their old 
club,” said Aleck, his nose in the air. 

“They are clever — quite as much so as boys.” 
Aunt Z61ie returned to her bills, and there was 
silence for a moment ; then Ikey spoke : 

“ W e thought it would be fun to have a club 
too, and not tell the girls the name. There is n’t 
any harm in that, is there ? ” meekly. 

“ None whatever. What I do not like is that 
tone of lofty superiority. You do not realize how 
it sounds, and as I consider myself one of the girls 
I shall take such remarks as personal. Now tell 
me about the club ; is it to be simply for fun ? ” 

“ We ’d like a little fun, please,” said Aleck. 

“Aunt Z61ie, we really don’t know what we 
want, but we thought you could suggest something. 
You can think of scrumptious things when you try, 
and we can get ahead of the girls easily if we have 
you. So please, there’s a dear,” and Carl empha- 
sized his request with a bear-like hug from behind. 

There was no holding out against their entreaties, 
so she agreed to think it over. 

“ You may each invite one friend to a meeting in 
the star chamber next Friday evening, and in the 
meantime I ’ll do my best to think of something for 
you,” she said, and very well satisfied the boys 
departed, to lie in wait for the M.Ks. 

When they came to think of it, it was not easy 
to decide which of their friends to ask. Ikey 
finally settled upon his next best chum, Fred Ames. 


A RIVAL CLUB. 


87 


44 Don’t you think he will do ? ” he asked Carl as 
they walked home from school. 

44 Yes, of course; he is a very nice boy. I think 
I ’ll ask Jim Carter.” 

Ikey looked astonished. 44 Do you think he is the 
sort of a fellow your aunt will like ? ” 

44 1 don’t care ; I like him and I am going to ask 
him,” Carl replied positively. He thought best, 
however, to make some explanation. 

44 You see, Aunt Zelie,” he said, finding her alone 
that evening, 44 Jim is a funny kind of a boy. Ikey 
does n’t like him, but I think there is a lot that is 
good in him. He is bright, I can tell you, and 
there is nothing really mean about him, but his 
father gives him too much money. I suppose that 
is n’t ever good for a boy.” 

44 1 hardly think it is,” she said, smiling at Carl’s 
judicial manner. 

44 When he first came to school he thought he 
could get around anybody with his money, but he 
soon found the boys did not like it, — but perhaps 
I’d better not ask him.” 

44 Ask him by all means if you think he would 
like to come. I am willing to trust your judg- 
ment.” 

There were many points of resemblance between 
Jim Carter and Carl. Both stood well in their 
classes, were independent and popular with their 
schoolmates, but their home surroundings were very 
different. Mr. Carter was deeply engrossed in 


88 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


making money, having become suddenly rich 
through a lucky speculation. Ambitious for his 
only son, he wished him to have all the advantages 
of education which he himself had missed. So Jim 
was sent to a good school, but was taught at home 
by precept and example that to get money was the 
chief thing. 

Mrs. Carter was a good-natured, loud-voiced 
woman, who idolized her son, and could not deny 
him anything. It was the want of refinement, 
which Carl felt but could not express, and the utter 
lack of home training, that were responsible for 
Jim’s faults. 

His good-nature and real generosity won him 
friends among those who were at first disgusted by 
his boasting and display, and with a keen instinct 
for popularity Jim quickly learned the lesson. 

He admired Carl Hazeltine and was flattered by 
his invitation. 

“ We want to get up a club,” Carl said. “My 
aunt is going to help us, and we mean to have 
some fun ; I ’d like to have you, if you will come.” 

He accepted on the spot, though he wondered 
a little why an “ aunt ” should have anything to 
do with it. His experience with such relatives 
was limited to a middle-aged person who wore a 
shawl the year around, and regarded boys as nec- 
essary evils, to be sent upon as many errands as 
possible in the course of the day. Indeed, he 
would have considered his mother, of whom he 


A RIVAL CLUB. 


89 


was very fond, decidedly out of place among his 
friends. 

He was the last to arrive on Friday evening, 
and he looked about him with some curiosity as 
Carl led the way to the star chamber. As they 
passed the library door he had a glimpse of a 
pleasant family group; Mr. Hazeltine with his 
paper, Bess and Louise studying their geography 
lesson, and Helen playing with Mr. Smith. An 
airy vision awaited them at the top of the first 
flight of steps ; Carie in her nightgown, holding 
out her arms and calling, “ I want to tiss you dood- 
night,” while Sukey came running after. 

“ You naughty fairy,” said her big brother, 
catching her and handing her over to mammy after 
the kiss was bestowed. 

“ What a pretty little thing ! ” Jim remarked 
admiringly. 

“ She is the sweetest baby in the town,” Carl 
responded loyally. 

In the star chamber they found the other boys. 
Ikey and his friend Fred Ames, Aleck and his 
special chum Will Archer, who was as quiet and 
steady-going as Aleck was mischievous and happy- 
go-lucky. 

Jim was warmly welcomed, and Ikey gave him 
an ear of popcorn to shell. The rest were already 
at work seated on the rug before the fire. The 
old sofa was drawn up sociably, and a chair of 
state had been provided for Mrs. Howard. 


90 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


When the door opened a few minutes later, they 
were all talking and laughing at once in a decid- 
edly uproarious fashion. 

“ Here is Cousin Zelie ! ” cried Aleck, and there 
came a sudden lull as they scrambled to their feet. 
Jim was the only one she did not know, and for 
some reason the sight of this slender young woman 
in black, with a white rose in her dress, caused 
him a fit of unusual shyness. Ikey himself could 
not have been more abashed than he was when 
Carl introduced him. 

“As the fire is in such fine condition, perhaps 
the popping had best go on while we talk,” Aunt 
Zelie said, taking the chair ; “ then when business 
is over the refreshments will be ready.” 

Fred and Ikey were appointed a committee to 
attend to the corn, and when all were comfortably 
settled, she began : 

“ As you know, the object of this meeting is to 
hear suggestions for a club. I have been think- 
ing about it for a week, and this is the best plan 
that has occurred to me : it is to have a Good 
Neighbors Club. The text Uncle William gave 
you children, Carl, suggested it to me. 4 They 
helped every one his neighbor.’ It would mean 
keeping our eyes open for ways of helping, and 
being careful to respect the property of others. 

“You see I take it for granted that you want 
something besides fun, though I am sure we shall 
have a good time too.” 


A RIVAL CLUB. 


91 


“ I don’t think I understand what we are to do,” 
said Will. 

“You are not to break your neighbors’ windows, 
for instance,” replied Aleck, winking at Carl. 

“ There is no trouble about the helping,” answered 
Mrs. Howard ; “ there are always opportunities for 
that, and on the other hand I am inclined to think 
that you all at times do things that, to say the least, 
do not improve the appearance of your neighbor- 
hood. For example — but I believe I ’ll let you find 
out for yourselves. Suppose for a week you try to 
discover what it means to be a good neighbor, and 
report next Friday. The rest of my plan is very 
simple. To hold meetings every week or once in 
two weeks, as you choose, and I have some fasci- 
nating work which I know you can learn to do, and 
surprise the girls. I shall have it ready for the 
next meeting, and while you work we can have 
reading, or you can select a subject to discuss. 
Now the meeting is open ; please talk and ask 
questions.” 

Just here Ikey created a diversion by letting the 
pop-corn burn, whereupon Mrs. Howard took it from 
him, and, 'kneeling on the rug, popped the rest her- 
self. Carl brought in a basket of apples, and draw- 
ing up in a sociable circle they soon became merry 
and very much at ease. 

Aunt Z61ie liked boys, and had a way of es- 
tablishing friendly relations with them on short 
acquaintance. And this evening she made a spe- 


92 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


cial effort, for she wanted to know Carl’s friends and 
make the new club a success. The boys were ready 
to adopt her plan without waiting, but she insisted 
upon their taking a week to think about it. Before 
they left she wrote out the text on a card for each 
of them, that they might keep it in mind. 

“Isn’t she splendid?” said Ikey to Jim as the 
door closed behind them, for ever since the day 
of his accident he had been her ardent worshipper. 
Jim assented rather coolly. In fact, he was a little 
dazed. He had had a good time, though now it was 
over he was inclined to wonder why. As for being 
a good neighbor, he thought it sounded silly ; but 
before he went to bed he took out the card and read 
the text : “ They helped every one his neighbor.” 


GOOD NEIGHBORS. 


93 


CHAPTER X. 

GOOD NEIGHBORS. 

The Hazeltines’ lot was a corner one, and Aunt 
Marcia, driving one afternoon along the street upon 
which their side gate opened, saw two boys seated 
on a box near the entrance to the alley that ran 
back of the stable. 

“ What can they be doing ? ” she asked herself, 
and not being able to imagine, she stopped the car- 
riage and stepped out to investigate. 

As she approached it became evident that one of 
the boys was Carl. 

“ What are you doing here I should like to 
know ? ” she demanded. 

“We aren’t doing any harm, Aunt Marcia,” her 
nephew answered stoutly. 

“An alley is no place to play in. Is that 
Louise ? ” as somebody peeped out of the stable 
door. “ I am astonished ; you must go in at once.” 

“ I am going in directly, I am, indeed, Aunt 
Marcia ; but please don’t make the boys get up till 
they are sure it is quite dead.” As she spoke 
Louise came out into full view. 

“ What are you talking about, and who is this 
boy ? ” Mrs. Hazeltine put up her glass, embarrass- 


94 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


ing Ikey greatly. “ Oh, it is that Ford boy ! Now 
tell me what you have in that box.” 

a A cat.” Carl’s eyes were full of mischief, 
though his tone was solemnity itself. 

“ Mercy upon us ! Let it out at once ! ” 

“We can’t; it is dead.” 

“ Dead? You wicked boys ! Did you kill it? ” 

“ Oh, Aunt Marcia,” cried Louise before Carl 
could reply, “ they had to do it, indeed, indeed they 
did ! It was hurt ; some boys shot it with a toy 
pistol, and it was dreadful; so we bought some 
chloroform and Ikey killed it because he knew 
how, and now they are sitting on the box to make 
sure ! ” 

Horrified and astonished, Mrs. Hazeltine sur- 
veyed her young relatives in silence. 

“Why couldn’t you have James do it?” she 
inquired at length. 

“ He has taken the horses to be shod.” 

“ Where is Zelie ? ” 

“ Gone to Chicago with Cousin Helen.” 

“Well, Louise must go in at once, and may I 
inquire how long it will be necessary for you to sit 
on that box in this damp place ? ” 

“ It must be dead now, I think,” Ikey said, rising. 

Carl was proceeding to make an investigation, 
when Aunt Marcia protested, “Wait till I ’m gone, 
if you please; I don’t care to have anything to 
do with such business,” and drawing her skirts 
about her, she hastily retired. 


GOOD NEIGHBORS. 


95 


“ There never were such children ! ” she said to 
her husband that night. “ Think of it — actually 
killing a cat — and Louise helping ! ” 

“ Don’t you think it was better than letting the 
poor thing suffer?” asked tender-hearted Uncle 
William. 

“ I don’t care, Carl, you need n’t laugh,” said 
Louise that same evening ; “ for cats are neighbors, 
father says so. Anything or anybody you can help, 
he said.” 

“ All right, I ’ll tell Ikey to report it at the G.N. 
meeting.” 

“ Oh, ho, Mr. Carl ! Is that what you are going 
to do at your club ? ” cried both his sisters in the 
same breath. 

“ Pooh ! that is nothing,” said Carl, affecting 
great unconcern, but secretly very much provoked 
with himself ; “ we do a great deal more than that.” 

The girls were excessively pleased over his little 
slip, and he at last descended from his lofty pin- 
nacle and humbly begged them not to tell Aleck. 

The M.Ks. had in their turn christened the boys’ 
club the “ Great Noodles,” a name in which it was 
thought Uncle William had a hand. 

“ Sounds like boys ,” Elsie remarked with much 
emphasis. 

The next day after school, just as the group of 
boys on the corner began to separate in various 
directions, Jim Carter asked, “ Have you fellows 
thought of anything for Friday night?” 


96 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


44 Ikey has,” laughed Carl. “ You could n’t guess 
what he did yesterday.” 

44 Shut up ! I ’d like to know if you did n’t 
help ? ” Ikey’s strap full of books swung round in 
dangerous proximity to his friend’s head. 

44 Full details of the sad occurrence given later,” 
Carl called out as he ran for his life. 

44 1 don’t understand it, do you ? I have n’t any 
neighbors to help,” Jim said, as he and Fred Ames 
walked on together. 

44 1 don’t know. I suppose it means not doing 
things too. Perhaps this is one thing,” and Fred 
carried to the edge of the sidewalk the skin of 
the banana he was peeling, and dropped it on the 
pile of dust and dirt which had been swept up by 
the street cleaner. 

44 Do you think Mrs. Howard meant silly things 
like that ? ” 

44 Why not ? I heard of an old man who slipped 
on a banana skin and broke his leg. It would not 
have seemed silly to him if someone had put it out 
of his way. But if she did n’t mean such things, 
what did she mean ? Perhaps you think you are 
improving the neighborhood.” Fred glanced mis- 
chievously at his companion, who held a piece of 
chalk and was carelessly making a straggling white 
line on everything he passed. Jim dropped his 
hand impatiently. 44 1 don’t think I ’ll belong,” he 
said. He did not quite mean this. He was really 
curious to see what it would amount to, but at the 


GOOD NEIGHBORS. 


97 


same time he was not exactly pleased. He felt 
great scorn for what he considered trifles, and had 
a strong belief in his right to do as he pleased. 

Thursday night of this week happened to be 
Hallowe’en. Jim, who had had almost unlimited 
freedom since his babyhood, had often gone about 
with a crowd of hoys on this night ringing door- 
bells, carrying away door-mats, and turning on 
water. By the marauders it was looked upon as a 
grand frolic, and owners of missing mats and del- 
uged yards might grumble as they pleased. He 
had even looked forward to the time when more 
daring exploits would be possible, and when some 
of his old companions came for him this evening 
he joined them as a matter of course. 

“ Let ’s give old Grandfather Clark a dose first, 
he is always as mad as fury,” said one of the boys. 

At this moment the motto of the club popped into 
Jim’s head. 

44 They helped every one his neighbor.” This was 
not helping. There came to him a sudden deter- 
mination not to have anything to do with it. Not 
that he saw any special reason why they should 
not have fun at old Mr. Clark’s expense, but rather 
because he wanted to go to the club at least once 
more ; and, mingled with this, there was a feeling 
that the nicest fellows did not do things of this 
kind. 

There could be no doubt as to the interest in the 
G.N.C. a& the boys had begun to call it. On Fri- 


98 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


day night six eager faces greeted Mrs. Howard 
when she entered the star chamber, and there was 
an amiable scramble for the honor of giving her a 
chair. 

“ First we ’ll have reports and then begin work ; 
that is, if yon have decided that you like the plan.” 
As she spoke she looked at Jim, who was nearest. 

He had entirely recowered from his bashfnlness, 
and was feeling rather well pleased with himself, 
so he answered promptly : 

“ I am not sure I understand it, Mrs. Howard, but 
I have thought of one thing. I suppose } r ou would 
not call it being a good neighbor to go about on 
Hallowe’en as lots of boys do, carrying off gates 
and doing other mischief. I have done it myself, 
and I never thought there was much harm in it, 
but I suppose there is.” He was astonished him- 
self at this honest conclusion. 

Mrs. Howard smiled. “ Stopping to think makes 
such a difference,” she said. “I should be sorry 
indeed to believe that any of you boys could take 
part in some of the wild pranks that are often 
played on Hallowe’en. My brother had a valu- 
able young tree destroyed last night. Boys do such 
things for fun, they say, but it does n’t seem honest 
to make other people pay so dearly for their fun.” 

*“ I never thought of it in that way,” said Fred. 

“ But how are you ever to have any fun if you 
must stop and think about things?” Jim asked, 
feeling ashamed in spite of himself as he remem- 


GOOD NEIGHBORS. 


99 


bered how near he had come to making one of such 
a crowd. 

“ Its being fun is n’t any excuse. Suppose you 
thought it fun to steal somebody’s pocketbook ? ” 
said Carl. 

“ That is a different thing.” 

“What is the real difference between stealing 
money and ruining something that cost money ? ” 
asked Will. 

“ Father says that in America people have less 
respect for public property than anywhere else in 
the world,” remarked Fred. 

“ I am afraid it is true,” replied Mrs. Howard, 
“ and that is why I want you boys to think about 
it. Ikey, haven’t you something to say? ” This 
young gentleman, who had- been fidgeting about 
like some uneasy insect, now became greatly em- 
barrassed. 

“ I don’t know whether it will count or not, and 
it is as much Carl’s as mine,” he began. 

“ It is n’t at all ; you thought of it — go on.” 

Aunt Zelie nodded encouragingly at him, though 
she had no idea what was coming, and after sev- 
eral beginnings Ikey managed to tell the story of 
the cat. Louise had found the poor thing, and had 
come in great distress to the -boys. Ikey remem- 
bered seeing his father kill a pet dog with chloro- 
form, and so volunteered to try it on the cat. Carl 
bought the chloroform, and, putting some cotton 
saturated with it in a paper bag, they drew this over 


100 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


the animal’s head, covering all with a box made as 
air-tight as possible. 

“ But,” said Ikey comically, “ I don’t know 
whether cats are neighbors.” 

“Indeed, they are most useful ones, and fre- 
quently unappreciated. It was a kind thing to 
do, and, now you know how easy it is, I hope you 
will all be ready to put any poor animal out of its 
misery when you find it hopelessly hurt.” 

“We had a beautiful funeral, Cousin Zelie, and 
are going to take up a collection for a tombstone,” 
said Aleck. 

They grew so merry over Ikey’s story that it 
was difficult to come back to such commonplaces as 
writing on fences and walls, and scattering papers 
around. 

“ Everybody does such things, so what difference 
will our not doing them make ? ” asked Jim. 

“Everything has to begin, and you don’t know 
how contagious a good example is,” replied Mrs. 
Howard. 

“ Let ’s have a penny fine for each time we do a 
thing of the sort,” Carl suggested. 

Last of all, Will Archer told about the little 
lame boy, son of the minister at the church on the 
corner. 

“ I think perhaps it would be a pleasure to him 
if some of us would go to see him occasionally. 
He hardly gets out at all in the winter, and he is a 
bright little fellow,” 


GOOD NEIGHBORS. 


101 


“That is a beautiful suggestion,” said Mrs. 
Howard. “ I am glad that you have thought of so 
many things good neighbors should and should not 
do. Taken all together it amounts to this : To be 
thoughtful for the rights of others, and ready to 
help. Now, what of our club? Shall we try this 
plan?” 

It was unanimously adopted, and they all wrote 
their names under the text in a new blank-book 
which was handed over to Jim, who offered no 
objection to being made secretary. 

“And now for our work,” said Mrs. Howard. 
“ Some years ago, when I spent a summer in Maine, 
I learned from an Indian woman to make baskets 
of sweet grass. This year I had a friend bring me 
some of this grass, and it occurred to me the other 
day that it would be just the work for you boys.” 

Carl brought in an armful of the fragrant mate- 
rial, and his aunt showed them how to fasten it to 
the frame she had had made for the purpose, and 
then braid it. Their fingers were awkward at first, 
but they soon learned to do it evenly, and found it 
pleasant work. 

“ What are we to do with them when they are 
done ? ” Ikey asked. 

“ Sell them, and help somebody with the money,” 
was the reply. 

The thought of making anything good enough to 
sell was inspiring, and they worked with a will till 
it was time to adjourn. 


102 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


Talking it over with her brother after the hoys 
were gone, Aunt Zelie said : “ Perhaps our club is 
too comprehensive : a sort of Village Improvement, 
Humane and Missionary Society combined, but the 
boys thought of these things themselves. If we 
can only cultivate the spirit of helpfulness, perhaps 
it will find its own natural channel in each.” 

44 You can’t specialize in everything, life is too 
short,” answered Mr. Hazeltine, laughing. 

44 1 don’t know what you mean by channels, and 
specializing, and all that,” said Carl, looking in the 
door, 44 but I can tell you, Aunt Zelie, the boys like 
it, and Jim thinks you are tiptop. Hurrah for the 
G.N.C.!” 


PLANS. 


103 


CHAPTER XI. 

PLANS. 

“ Suppose we ask the boys to help us,” said 
Bess, threading her needle, and carefully making a 
nice little knot. 

44 Oh, no ! ” objected Elsie, “ let ’s do it all by our- 
selves.” 

44 If the boys can help us to do something better 
than we can do without them, I think we ought to 
have them,” said Dora wisely. 

44 It will be more fun too,” said Louise, whose 
motto was 44 The more, the merrier.” 

44 We have n’t much time either,” Bess continued ; 
44 but Aunt Zdlie will help us, and you too, won’t 
you, Miss Brown?” 

44 1 ’ll be glad to do anything I can,” replied that 
lady, looking up from the feather-stitching she was 
showing Constance. 

Christmas was coming. The fact could no 
longer be overlooked, and as usual everybody was 
feeling surprised at its nearness. 

It was not a bit too near, the children thought, 
though even they had a great deal to do, and found 
the days all too short. 

Miss Brown was full of suggestions for Christ- 


104 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


mas gifts, and most patient with awkward fingers, 
and the M.Ks. were very happy over the things she 
was helping them to make. Now, on top of all this 
they had found something else to talk about and 
work for. 

One day when Bess and Louise were in the cor- 
ner confectionery, the wife of the proprietor, as she 
handed them their package, held out a small 
bundle of edging, asking them to take it home and 
show it to their aunt. It was made, she said, by a 
young Italian girl who, though a cripple, was trying 
to support herself and some younger brothers and 
sisters. 

As the trimming was pretty and strong, Mrs. 
Howard bought some for the children’s aprons, and 
finding the girl worthy, gave her other work, which 
was carried back and forth by a little sister. 

Louise saw this child waiting in the hall one 
Saturday morning, and went down to talk to her. 
Tina was pretty, with great black eyes and short 
dark curls, but Louise found her rather silent, for 
she was in fact rather awed by her surroundings. 
The wide hall with its polished floor and soft rugs 
seemed very grand to her unaccustomed eyes. 

“ I wish I could sew and embroider like your 
sister, then I could make some money,” said Louise. 

Tina wondered why she wanted money, but only 
answered, “ So do I.” 

“ Bess and I have never enough money for Christ- 
mas. Is that what you want it for ? ” 


PLANS. 


105 


“ No; I would give it to my father.” 

“ Why, he would n’t want it, would he ? Has n’t 
he any money ? ” 

Tina shook her head, and after some questioning 
she explained that her father was a member of a 
small string band. He played the harp, she said, 
and sometimes earned a good deal, but he had been 
sick, so he lent his harp to a man who promised to 
keep his place for him and pay him something 
besides. “ But he was a bad man ! ” she exclaimed 
vehemently, “ for he broke the harp, and then ran 
away and would not pay to have it mended; and 
now my father does not want to get well, he is sick 
with sorrow.” 

“ But can’t he get it mended himself, or find 
the bad man and make him pay for it?” 

“ It would cost a great deal of money, — fifteen 
dollars the music man told my sister, — and the 
man who broke it has gone away to the South.” 

“ I am so sorry,” was all Louise could say, for 
their talk was interrupted; but she ran upstairs 
immediately to tell Bess. 

“ Don’t you wish we could have it mended for 
him ? ” she asked. 

“ Yes, indeed, but we have n’t any money to 
spare from our Christmas things, and if we used it 
every bit it would not be enough.” 

“ We might get somebody to help us ; still that 
would n’t be as nice as doing it ourselves.” 

“Perhaps we could have a fair, like the one 


106 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


Aunt Zelie had when she was a little girl. Let ’s 
ask her,” proposed Bess, jumping up. 

But their aunt thought it too great an under- 
taking. “ I was several years older than you are,” 
she said, “ and we worked for six months to get 
ready. However,” she added, seeing the disap- 
pointed faces, “you might do something else, 
tableaux or charades.” 

This idea pleased them, and they decided to 
talk it over at the club that afternoon. 

There was no difficulty in interesting the M.Ks. 
They were all enthusiasm. 

“We may not make enough,” said Louise, “but 
that ought not to keep us from trying to help.” 

“If we could only give them the money for a 
Christmas gift,” said Dora. 

“ I don’t see how you could manage that, but a 
New Year’s gift would be almost as good, would 
it not? ” asked Miss Brown. 

“ There is Ikey now ! I ’ll call to him to find 
the other boys and bring them over.” Dora 
rapped on the window-pane with her knitting 
needle as she spoke. 

Ikey, who had just vaulted over a hitcliing-post 
on his way down the street, came to a sudden halt. 

“Find Carl and Aleck, and bring them here, 
that ’s a good boy ; we want to consult you about 
something,” she called. 

He obeyed with soldierly promptness and was 
across the street in a second. A few minutes 


PLANS. 


107 


later Louise announced, “ Here they come, and 
Aunt Zelie with them.” 

“ I am one of the boys now, you know,” said 
Mrs. Howard as she entered. “ How cosey you 
look ! I believe I should like to join your club 
too.” 

“ Oh, do ! Please do, Mrs. Howard ! ” came in a 
chorus from the M.Ks. as she sat down in the 
midst of them. 

“We’ll talk about that another time; at pres- 
ent we have something else to discuss. Sit down, 
boys, and listen while the girls tell you what they 
want. I already know about it.” 

Bess then told the story of the broken harp, and 
explained how anxious they were to earn money 
enough to have it mended. 

“We intend to give an entertainment, and we 
want you to help,” said Dora. 

“ What are you going to have ? ” Carl asked 
cautiously. 

“ We want you to help us to decide.” 

“We can help in one way, can’t we?” Ikey 
exclaimed ecstatically, whereupon the other boys 
looked daggers at him, for the basket-making was 
kept a profound secret. 

“ I did n’t tell anything, did I ? ” he inquired in 
an aggrieved tone. 

“ What does he mean, Aunt Zelie ? ” asked 
Louise. 

“ It is something we are not ready to tell just 


108 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


yet, but I have a plan to propose. I shall need all 
of you to help carry it out, and if you are willing 
to do a little work I am sure we can have a charm- 
ing entertainment.” 

Profound interest reigned in Miss Brown’s sit- 
ting-room for the next half hour, as Aunt Zelie 
unfolded her plan and explained what she wanted 
of each one. “ And in the meantime you must not 
breathe a word about what we are to have, but 
excite everybody’s curiosity as much as possible,” 
she said in conclusion. 

“ W on’t it be lovely ! ” cried Elsie, clapping her 
hands. 

“ A great deal better than a fair, and more fun,” 
said Louise. 

In the pretty room which belonged to Bess and 
Louise sat a busy group one afternoon. Its owners 
were occupied with a tall scrap basket that was 
intended for Uncle William and Aunt Marcia. 
Aunt Zelie had donated the ribbons to trim it, and 
they were anxious to have it as handsome as possi- 
ble. Helen and Carl were there too, the one making 
a bonnet for her doll, the other pasting in his scrap- 
book, sitting on the floor with a newspaper spread 
out before him. Dora had received a warm wel- 
come when she came in with her work, as she often 
did. They all agreed in thinking that she could 
not come too often, and to Dora life in that house 
was a sort of enchantment. It seemed brighter, 
roomier, pleasanter there than anywhere else. 


PLANS. 


109 


Her young friends did not dream of the cares 
already resting on her shoulders : the effort to cheer 
her mother, who was fast becoming an invalid, the 
life in the large boarding-house that neither of 
them liked. 

“ Do you think it will be pretty ? ” Bess asked, 
holding her basket at arm’s length to see the effect 
of the golden-brown ribbon she was weaving in and 
out through the straw. 

“ It is a beauty,” answered Dora admiringly. 

“ Yes, it is pretty, really,” said Louise, whose 
fingers were trying to fashion what she called a 
stylish bow. 

“ Girls are funny, always sticking bows on 
things,” observed Carl. 

“ If it is funny to like to make things look pretty, 
I am glad I am funny,” said Dora severely. 

“ Dear me ! Of course, I was not objecting in the 
least,” replied the young gentleman, who rather 
enjoyed being taken to task by Dora. 

“I am sorry to break up this pleasant party, 
but I am afraid I must,” Aunt Z61ie said, com- 
ing in. 

“ Why, Auntie ? ” asked Louise, looking up with 
three little wrinkles between her eyes, for the 
stylish bow would not be quite as she wanted it. 

“ Because I am in danger of losing my roses,” 
answered her aunt, pinching Bess’s cheek. “Yes- 
terday they had no fresh air worth mentioning.” 

Oh, please don’t make us go ! ” cried Bess in a 


110 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


tone that was almost a wail. “ We have So much to 
do!” 

“ I must finish my bow,” Louise said positively. 

“I shall not make you, but Joanna is going to 
Aunt Marcia’s with a note, and I want you to go 
too because you need the air. I am sure Dora will 
take the walk with you, and on the way back sup- 
pose you stop and ask Mrs. Warner to let her stay 
to dinner. So fly now and get ready.” She spoke 
so energetically that Dora began at once to roll up 
her work, and Bess dropped her scissors with a sigh 
of relief, but Louise held on to her bow desperately. 

“ I will finish it,” she said to herself. 

44 Louise,” her aunt said gently, 44 the reason you 
cannot make the bow to plense you is because you 
are tired. Now, which will you do, put it away till 
to-morrow — when I am sure you will not have any 
trouble with it : — and go to walk with the others, 
or stay here and grow more and more tired and 
cross, till you are not fit to come to dinner with 
the rest of us ? ” 

She had a struggle with herself before she an- 
swered in a choked voice, 44 1 guess I ’ll go, but I 
did want to finish it.” 

44 Of course, but you will be glad by and by that 
you chose to do what was right, instead of what 
you wanted to do,” and Aunt Z6\ie sent her off 
with a kiss. 

The walk to Aunt Marcia’s was not such a hard- 
ship after all, and when they reached home there 




PLANS. Ill 

was at least an hour for studying lessons before 
dinner, and that was followed by a grand frolic 
with Carie, lasting till it was time for Dora to go. 

“ I am sorry I was cross this afternoon,” Louise 
said when she came for her good-night kiss. 

“ It was because you were tired, dear, I know. 
You and Bess must take care not to be too much 
occupied with Christmas. It will not do to neglect 
every-day duties even for that,” replied her aunt. 


112 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


CHAPTER XII. 

CEDAR AND HOLLY. 

One Saturday afternoon, about three weeks 
before Christmas, the boys marched triumphantly 
into Miss Brown’s sitting-room with a large tissue- 
paper parcel. When this was undone before the 
eager eyes of the M.Ks., there were four beautiful 
fragrant little baskets with tops of bright-colored 
silk. 

“ How pretty ! ” — “ How lovely ! ” — “ Where 
did you get them ? ” — “ Surely you did not make 
them? ” — “ What are you going to do with them ? ” 

“ Why did n’t we make them, I ’d like to know ? ” 
asked Ikey proudly. 

Certainly the boys had reason to be satisfied at 
the praise their work received. 

“ I know you did not sew on the silk,” said Dora, 
examining one closely. 

“ Oh, well, Aunt Z61ie and Cousin Helen did the 
sewing, of course, but we did all the rest,” said 
Carl. 

“And what do you mean to do with them?” 
asked Elsie. 

“Sell them and give the money to the harp 
man.” 


CEDAR AND HOLLY. 


118 


They were so pretty there proved to he no trouble 
in disposing of them. Aunt Marcia, who was super- 
intending a Christmas bazaar, offered to put them 
on one of her tables, where they sold the first 
evening for a dollar and a half apiece. 

After this the meetings of the G.N. club had 
to give way to rehearsals for what Cousin Helen 
called “ The Harp Man’s Benefit,” which was to 
occur on New Year's eve. In the meantime Uncle 
William had interested himself in the matter, and, 
through a friend who was a music dealer, a harp 
was lent to Mr. Finnelli till his own could be 
repaired. 

“So we feel more comfortable about it now,” 
said Louise, “ and we think we ’ll make at least ten 
dollars at our entertainment.” 

Late in the afternoon of the day before Christmas 
Aunt Zelie sat alone in the library taking a moment’s 
rest. 

The sound of happy voices came through the 
open door. It was a custom in the family to deco- 
rate the hall on Christmas eve, and the children had 
been making wreaths and festoons of cedar, and 
having any amount of fun. They were now having 
a merry time over Ikey’s suggestion to hang a 
holly wreath above the Big Front Door. From the 
top of the ladder Carl began : 

“ ’T was the night before Christmas,” 


and the others chimed in: 


114 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


“ and all through the house 
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.” 

A moment later Aunt Z^lie’s quiet was in- 
vaded. 

“Nothing makes me feel more like Christmas 
than that old rhyme,” she said, as the laughing 
children gathered around her. 

“'Talk to us about Christmas, Auntie, please,” 
said Louise. 

“ Could you possibly talk about anything else ? ” 
she asked. “What is it that makes this such a 
happy time?” 

“ Why,” answered Carl, “ it is because it is such 
fun to give presents to people, and know you are 
sure to get a lot yourself.” 

“ Yes, it is because every one tries to make some 
one else happy. Why do we keep Christ’s birth- 
day in this way ? ” 

“ Because he came to make us happy, I suppose,” 
said Bess. 

“ Don’t you wish you could have heard the 
angels sing? I like that part of the story best 
where the shepherds are out in the fields,” said 
Louise. 

“ I like the wise men seeing the star and bring- 
ing gifts,” said Carl. 

“ It is beautiful from beginning to end, and it is 
a true story, that is what makes it so dear to us,” 
Aunt Zelie said, looking into the fire. 


CEDAR AND HOLLY. 


115 


“ I wish it came oftener, a whole year is so long 
to wait,” sighed Bess. 

“Dear me,” laughed her aunt, “I don’t. It 
would take all my time to get ready. I have ever 
so many things to do after you are snugly tucked 
in bed.” 

“ I think I ’ll not go to bed to-night,” remarked 
Carl. 

Even he was tired, however, after they had 
helped their father and Uncle William trim the 
hall. So many small fingers were sometimes a 
hindrance, but then it was “ such fun.” 

“ Christmas belongs to the children, so let them 
have a good time in their own way,” said their 
uncle. 

To the older people the season was full of mem- 
ories of those who used to take part in the happy 
festival, but were there no longer ; for the chil- 
'dren’s sake, however, no difference was made in 
the old customs. 

All was done at last, even to fastening the mis- 
tletoe in the chandelier, and it only remained to 
hang the stockings beside the nursery fireplace. 
Carie’s was already there and she herself safe in 
dreamland. 

“ I just can’t wait till morning,” said Bess, as 
she put up her own. 

“ It is nice to know it is coming, I think,” and 
Louise twirled around on her toes and dropped 
her stocking into the grate. 


116 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


“What will Santa Claus put your things in 
now ? ” laughed Carl. 

“ It is only scorched,” she said, snatching it 
from the fire, which was fortunately low. 

After some laughing and whispering over a 
plan for waking before any one else, they sepa- 
rated and were soon so soundly asleep that even 
Christmas was forgotten. 

It was beginning to be light next morning when 
Louise opened her eyes to find Carl standing be- 
side her. 

“ How hard you are to wake,” he said. “ It is 
daylight, and everybody will be up directly.” 

They aroused Bess, and the three ran first to 
their father’s door, then to Aunt Z^lie’s, giving- 
half a dozen hearty raps, and calling “ Merry 
Christmas ” at the tops of their voices. 

When Mrs. Howard opened her door she saw 
three airily attired figures flying up the third-story 
stairs. 

Hurrying into her dressing-gown, she followed. 
She found them in the star chamber with the win- 
dow wide open, shouting themselves hoarse at 
Ikey, who had been awakened by the telephone 
bell. 

“You crazy children, you will take cold! Put 
the window down at once.” 

“ Oh, Auntie, it was such fun ! Ikey was so sur- 
prised ! ” they cried. 

“ I should imagine so,” severely. 


CEDAR AND HOLLY. 


117 


You needn’t pretend to look cross, Aunt Zelie, 
for you just can’t,” laughed Carl. 

“Now for our stockings ! ” cried Bess, and there 
was a rush for the nursery. 

Such laughing, such squeals of delight, such 
cries of admiration, as were to be heard there for 
the next half hour ! 

Carie in her long night-gown pranced wildly 
around a wonderful white bear, which moved its 
head and growled in a most natural manner when 
Carl wound it up. Helen hugged in one arm the 
beautiful doll Cousin Helen had dressed for her, 
while she dived into the toe of her stocking. Bess 
and Louise sat on their new sled and turned the 
pages of a story-book. Carie brought matters to a 
climax by backing into her bath-tub, which Aunt 
Sukey had just brought in and placed by the fire. 
She was rescued, dripping and somewhat aggrieved, 
amid great laughter. Such an every-day matter 
as breakfast was hardly worth thinking of, there 
was so much else in prospect. All the uncles and 
aunts and cousins were coming to dinner, and after 
that the tree ! There was enough to keep them in 
a gale of excitement. 

Bess and Louise had a plan of their own which 
no one else knew about, and after breakfast they 
stole off together. 

Going into her little study not long after, Aunt 
Z61ie found them there. Bess stood on a chair 
holding a vase which she had just filled with white 


118 THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 

roses ; Louise stood beside her with some others 
in her hand. 

“ Oh, Auntie ! ” they both exclaimed, “we did n’t 
want you to come till it was all done.” 

“ Shall I go away ? ” she asked, smiling. 

“ We ’ll tell you about it now, shan’t we, Bess ? ” 
said Louise. “You know,” she continued, as her 
sister nodded approval, “ we thought perhaps 
Uncle Carl would be glad if we remembered him 
on Christmas, and we could n’t think of anything 
but flowers.” 

Bess had placed the vase on a bracket beneath 
her uncle’s portrait, and now came down from the 
chair, adding anxiously, “ You like it, don’t you, 
Aunt Zelie ? ” 

“ The vase would n’t hold them all, so you must 
wear the rest,” and Louise put them into her hand. 

Aunt Z61ie silently kissed them both. 

There was something about this kiss that for a 
moment clouded the brightness of the day for 
Bess. “ I wish people did not die,” she exclaimed 
with almost a sob, as they went downstairs. 

“ What makes you look so sober, I should like to 
know ?” demanded Uncle William, who, with Aunt 
Marcia, was the first of the guests to arrive. 

“ I was just thinking,” she replied, and then, as 
Aunt Zelie came in with her usual bright face and 
the roses on her breast, she felt reassured and 
danced away to be as merry as anybody. 

Dora and Ikey were the only outsiders invited 


CEDAR AND HOLLY. 


119 


to the tree, which was much like other trees, and so 
does not need to be described. It was perfectly 
satisfactory, however, and they all had exactly 
what they wanted. Dora was amazed at the num- 
ber of things that fell to her share, most of all at a 
small gold bracelet with a daisy on the clasp, from 
Aunt Marcia. 

“You may be sure she likes you after that,” 
whispered Aleck. 

“Let’s go over and wish Miss Brown a Merry 
Christmas,” proposed Carl, when the candles began 
to burn low. 

“We will storm Nottingham castle ! ” cried Ikey. 
“ Come on ! ” 

They received a cordial welcome. “ What good 
children you are to think of me to-day ! ” she said, 
laying down her book. 

“We have had such a beautiful time we thought 
we would finish it by coming to see you,” said 
Dora. 

“ And thank you for our work-bags,” added 
Bess. 

“You need not think you have had all the 
Christmas on your side of the street,” said Miss 
Brown, pointing to a rose-bush in bloom in the 
window and to some new books on her table. 
“And I should like to know,” she continued, 
“ how five little girls happened to guess what would 
please me most.” 

The M.Ks., after much discussion about their 


120 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


gift to Miss Brown, had accepted Aunt Zelie’s 
advice and had themselves photographed in a 
group. 

“ I shall never be lonely again with these bright 
faces to look at,” she said, lifting the picture from 
the floor beside her sofa. 

“ Did you have Christmas trees when you were 
a little girl, Miss Brown ? ” Louise asked. 

“No, my grandmother used to celebrate New 
Year’s day as the great holiday; we had gifts then, 
but not a tree.” 

“ I have n’t had one since I was a very little 
girl,” said Dora ; and Ikey added, “ And neither 
have I.” 

“ Did you have one when you were a little girl, 
Ikey?” asked Aleck gravely, making everybody 
laugh. 

After they were gone Miss Brown sat alone in 
the firelight, thinking that of all the blessings the 
year had brought her, not the least was the friend- 
ship of these girls and boys. 

Of all the young people invited to Uncle Will- 
iam’s party, no one was in such a flutter of delight 
as Dora. Affairs of this kind were new to her, 
and as the Hazeltines had talked so much about it, 
it was no wonder she felt eager and excited as she 
dressed next evening. 

“ I suppose Elsie would n’t go if she had to 
wear such plain things as mine,” she thought as she 
took out her white dress. “ Louise said they were 


CEDAR AND HOLLY. 


121 


going to wear white. Oh, dear ! I should like to 
have nice clothes, but I can’t bother mamma about 
it.” Dora sighed, for she liked pretty things as- 
much as anybody. 

All trace of anything like discontent had disap- 
peared when she stood before her mother to have 
her sash tied. 

“ You should have had a new dress, poor child,” 
Mrs. Warner said sadly. 

“ No, Mamma dear,” was the cheerful answer, 
“ you must not mind. It does not matter what I 
wear ; I shall have a good time.” 

“How fortunate it is that Dora cares so little 
about dress ! ” her mother thought as her daughter 
kissed her and ran down to the parlor, where Carl 
was waiting with a bunch of roses which he pre- 
sented with much grace. The girls were in the 
carriage outside, and the drive through the streets, 
where the electric lights were just appearing, was 
no small part of the pleasure. Helen said it was 
like grown people going to a party. “ But it is 
more fun to be children, I think,” said Dora, bury- 
ing her face in her flowers. 

It was not quite like a grown-up party, for Uncle 
William’s guests were invited to come at the sensi- 
ble hour of six o’clock, but the beautiful house was 
all thrown open for their entertainment. 

Dora forgot her dress as they went up the steps 
and were ushered into the brilliantly lighted hall. 

They were the first arrivals, for the Hazeltine 


122 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


children were to assist in receiving the others, so 
when they came downstairs there were only Aunt 
Marcia, handsome and stately as usual, and Cousin 
Helen, looking exceedingly pretty in her pale-blue 
gown. The next comer was a tall gentleman whom 
Bess and Louise seemed to know very well. They 
called him Mr. Caruth, and were evidently de- 
lighted to see him. 

“I am glad you came home in time for the 
party,” Louise said to him ; and Carl with an eye 
to business added, “You must come to our enter- 
tainment on New Year’s eve, Mr. Caruth.” 

“ What do you charge for reserved seats ? ” 
asked the gentleman, laughing. 

“ Suppose we give him an arm-chair and make 
him pay a dollar for it,” suggested Miss Hazel- 
tine. 

“He is a very nice man,” Bess whispered to 
Dora. “We wish he would marry Cousin Helen, 
for then he would be related to us.” 

“ Upon my word ! ” Miss Hazeltine exclaimed, 
so suddenly that Bess gave a guilty start, “ I have 
forgotten my office ; come here and be decorated 
before any more arrive.” From a basket she took 
a handful of badges. 

“ What are these for ? ” Louise asked as her 
cousin pinned one on her shoulder. 

“You will find out by and by,” said Uncle Will- 
iam, coming in with a red rose in his buttonhole. 

And now the fun began. The children came in 


CEDAR AND HOLLY. 


123 


so rapidly that Cousin Helen had to have an assist- 
ant to fasten on the badges, and Mr. Hazeltine was 
here, there, and everywhere, seeing that no one 
was left out of the good time. They played games 
and danced, grown people and all, and later in the 
evening Mr. Frank Hazeltine actually induced 
Aunt Marcia to take part in 44 Tucker,” to the 
delight of her young relatives. 

It was particularly exciting when Uncle William 
was u Tucker.” They came through the grand right 
and left positively breathless, and everybody was 
glad of a few minutes’ rest before supper. 

44 Is n’t it strange that Dora does not have pret- 
tier dresses ? ” Elsie Morris whispered to the girl 
next her. 44 I like her ever so much, but she wears 
the plainest clothes.” 

As she spoke Dora passed to join Bess, who was 
beckoning to her from the other side of the room. 
She heard enough of what was said to make her 
color deepen as she went straight on. 

“ Elsie, she knew you were talking about her,” 
cried Constance Myer. 

44 No, she didn’t,” Elsie insisted, feeling very 
much ashamed. 

44 She won’t have any use for you after this,” 
remarked Jim Carter, who was standing near. He 
found that he was mistaken, however. When they 
were decorating themselves with the tissue-paper 
caps and favors found in the bonbons, Elsie, who 
was a most fastidious little mortal, exclaimed, “ I 


124 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


wish my cap was not green. I can’t wear it with a 
blue dress.” 

“ I ’ll change with you, for mine is blue and I 
like green quite as well.” 

It was Dora who stood beside her, holding out 
the cap. Poor Elsie was greatly abashed and 
could n’t say a word, but Dora insisted. 

“ Please take it ; I want you to have it, you will 
look so pretty in it.” 

She was exceedingly surprised when Elsie put 
her arms around her neck and kissed her, saying : 

“You are the best girl in the world.” 

It was a small thing, for Dora had spoken truly 
when she said that she liked one as well as the 
other, but it made a deep impression upon two 
people. Elsie began from that moment to be more 
careful and kind in her criticisms, and Jim rather 
reluctantly came to the conclusion that this was 
better and finer than showing resentment. 

When supper was over the company was per- 
vaded by a feeling that something interesting was 
about to happen. 

“ What is on hand, Louise, do you know ? ’’Aleck 
asked, and at that moment Uncle William was 
heard making an announcement. He had had an 
interview with Santa Claus, he said, as the old 
gentleman was passing through the city in a hurry 
to get home, and after some persuasion he had 
prevailed upon him to wait over and receive any of 
the young people present who cared to call on him. 


CEDAR AND HOLLY. 


125 


This occasioned great applause, and all were 
eager to pay their respects to jolly St. Nicholas. 

Half a dozen at a time, according to the num- 
bers on their badges, were conducted to a cur- 
tained doorway and told to enter. They all seemed 
to enjoy the interview, for they came out with smil- 
ing faces, and not empty-handed either. 

The children of the family were, of course, the 
last to go in, and Dora waited for them. 

The room was one which Uncle William called 
his den, and the figure in the arm-chair would have 
been recognized anywhere by his rosy countenance 
and long white beard. He wore his fur great-coat, 
and his cap and gloves lay on the table. 

He gave them a friendly greeting, saying, “ So 
you are the last ? It is a fortunate thing, for if I 
wait much longer I shall miss my train.” 

“ I did not know you travelled in that way,” said 
Carl mischievously. 

“ Dear me, boy ! How could I manage with a 
sleigh and reindeer in this mud ? I save those for 
colder climates. Now, before I am off, I think I 
have something left in my bag.” 

Opening a large satchel, he brought out half a 
dozen packages, and then taking up his cap and 
gloves and wishing them a Happy New Year, he 
was off before they could say “Jack Robinson.” 

“ He is a fine old fellow,” said Carl, examining 
the gun he had been wishing for. 

“ Indeed he is ! ” echoed Dora, taking a peep at 


126 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


the beautiful illustrated copy of “Little Women,” 
and then she was called to lead in the closing Vir- 
ginia reel with Uncle William. 

“ Well, how did you like the party? ” Carl asked 
her as they drove home. 

“ I have had the best time I ever had in my life,” 
she answered with a happy laugh. 


THE HARP MAN'S BENEFIT. 


127 


CHAPTER XIII. 

THE HARP MAN’S BENEFIT. 

“Where is my wig?” 

“ I have lost my banner! ” 

“ Tell Ikey to burry, he has to go on first. Do 
yon think that chimney will stand?” 

There was such confusion behind the scenes on 
New Year’s eve that Cousin Helen put her hands 
over her ears when she came in. 

“ It is time to begin,” she said. “ Ikey and Helen 
are first.” 

The performers had advertised their entertain- 
ment very thoroughly, and as a result a large and 
interested audience of young people had assembled 
before eight o’clock. 

When at length the curtain rose in response to 
vigorous clapping, it brought to view a fine stage, 
on which was a cottage with a window and door 
and a lifelike chimney, and everything was covered 
with glistening snow. After the audience had had 
time to admire this scene sufficiently, a boy and 
girl entered, dressed in outdoor costume. They 
looked sad, and the girl took her handkerchief 
from her muff and held it to her eyes. Her com- 
panion begged her not to cry, for Father Time 


128 


THE BIG FRONT BOOR. 


would surely help them. Then he knocked at 
the door of the cottage. It opened at once and 
out came a veri table Father Time, leaning on his 
staff. His long white beard, his scythe and hour- 
glass, all proved his identity. Looking at the 
children he asked: 

“ Who is it knocks at my door to-day ? 

Speak to me quickly, I cannot stay.” 

The little girl replied : 

u Dear Father Time, we ’ve come to you, 

Perhaps you’ll tell us what to do. 

Our teacher says that in the year 
Too many holidays appear. 

She says we must at least drop one, 

And she ’d be glad if there were none.” 

And the boy added : 

“ It is hard to know what day to choose, 

When there is n’t one you care to lose.” 

In great astonishment Father Time exclaimed : 

u To drop a holiday ! Absurd ! 

Impossible ! Upon my word ! 

Affairs like this belong to me, 

As I ’ll soon let this teacher see.” 

He rapped on the ground with his staff and a 
small page appeared, wearing a pointed cap and 
carrying a tin horn. Bowing low before Father 
Time, he was instructed to call the Holidays 


the harp man's benefit. 


129 


together. He withdrew and was heard blowing 
his horn in the distance. Presently music sounded, 
and the eight Holidays came marching in, with 
banners, singing : 

u Joyous Holidays, 

Full of gayety, 

Bringing happy hours, 

Merry days are we. 

u Children love us well, 

Surely they have reason. 

Happiness and mirth 
Bring we every season. 

“Father Time, we ’ve come, 

Answering to your call, 

Glad to do your will 
Are we one and all.” 

After marching twice around the stage they took 
their stand in a semicircle before Father Time and 
the children. 

Father Time : “ These children have come to me 
in deep distress, because their teacher (a most sin- 
gular person) says there are too many Holidays, 
and one of them must be given up. I have sent 
for you to reassure them ; speak for yourselves.” 

The Holidays looked at each other in dismay, 
and exclaimed : 

u Holidays are we, 

And we ’ve come to stay, 

Caring not a whit 
What such people say.” 


130 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


Boy and girl (clapping their hands) : “ Oh, dear 
Holidays, we are so glad! But are you sure she 
can’t send any of you away?” 

New Year’s day now stepped forward. It was 
Jim Carter, whose suit of cotton batting, deco- 
rated with tinsel and cedar, was most becoming. 
Banner in hand he recited : 

u First upon the list, 

I’d be greatly missed. 

Pages fresh and new, 

Resolutions true, 

Wishes for good cheer 
In the coming year, 

Where would these all be, 

Were it not for me? ” 


Both children : 

u No matter what the teachers say, 

We can’t give up our New Year’s Day.” 

Next came Elsie, looking exceedingly like a val- 
entine in her gauzy dress, her fair hair waving over 
her shoulders. In her own airy way she recited : 

u Surely you know, if you are not quite stupid, 

That I belong to that gay god Cupid. 

Send me away and I very much fear 

You ’ll find him infesting each day of the year.” 

Both children : 

u We never could endure to part 
From you who lie so near our heart.” 


THE HARP MAN'S BENEFIT. 


131 


The next Holiday excited great laughter and 
applause as he came forward. It was Aleck, in 
powdered wig, velvet coat, knee breeches, silk 
stockings, and shining shoe-buckles. In one hand 
he carried a small hatchet. The occasion was 
almost too much for him, and he spoke his lines 
with difficulty : 

u My very great importance 
To see you cannot fail, 

I point a useful moral 
And adorn a thrilling tale. 

And with my honored hatchet 
I ’in sure you ’ll ever find 
I make a good impression 
Upon the youthful mind.” 

Girl and boy : 

“ Indeed, we do not doubt you ; 

We could never do without you.” 

Washington’s Birthday was of course followed 
by April Fool’s Day. This part was taken by 
Fred Ames, in a suit of figured chintz, with cap 
and bells. He recited : 

“ Don’t think I ’m the one to be laid on the shelf ; 

I have a few words now to say for myself. 

To nonsense each one at some time must give vent; 

To furnish you with an excuse I am sent. 

To give you a day without precept or rule, 

In which you may each be a gay April Fool.” 

The children : 

“ Though not the most important on the list, 

We know, dear April Fool, you would be missed.” 


132 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


Next came Constance, with a garland of roses 
on her head, and her white dress trimmed with 
flowers. She recited : 

“ When first the flowers begin to show 
Their happy little faces, 

And tiny leaves begin to grow, 

To make us shady places, 

’T is then I sing in merry tune — 

Sweet Summer ’s coming very soon.” 

The children : 

u Pretty May-Day must not go, 

We have always loved her so.” 

After Constance came Louise, who made a charm- 
ing Goddess of Liberty, dressed in stars and stripes, 
with a flag in her hand. She said : 

“ I come to tell the story 

Of the birthday of our land, 

To remind you of her glory, 

And to help you understand 
How by good men, brave and true, 

This great land was won for you.” 

The children : 

u Dear Fourth, we love your fun and noise, 

You ’re ever dear to girls and boys.” 

Thanksgiving Day was represented by Dora, 
dressed as a Puritan maiden, carrying a basket of 
apples and a sheaf of wheat. She made a pleasant 
picture as she recited : 


THE HARP MAN'S BENEFIT. 


133 


u When wintry days once more appear, 

I come well laden with good cheer. 

You can't lose me at any rate, 

For I ’m appointed by the State.” 

The children : 

u As long as we ’re living 
We ’ll keep dear Thanksgiving.” 

Last of all came Christmas Day. This was Carl, 
in white, like New Year’s, with trimmings of holly 
and mistletoe. A brave young Holiday he looked, 
as he repeated : 

u Last comes to you the merry day 
O’er which St. Nicholas holds sway ; 

A day that ’s sent your hearts to fill 
With peace and joy and glad goodwill. 

And down through all the centuries long 
Echo the angel words and song, 

And every year again I tell 

The old sweet story, loved so well.” 

As he finished, the children said eagerly : 

u Dear Holidays, we love you all; 

You ’re good and true and gay, 

And we hope, as you have said, 

That all have come to stay. 

But though we value all the rest, 

’Tis Christmas Day we love the best.” 

At this the other Holidays stepped out, and bow- 
ing to Christmas, said : 

u We all unite in words of praise, 

And crown him king of Holidays.” 


184 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


Then New Year’s Day placed a crown on his head, 
May-Day gave him a rose, Fourth of July, a flag, 
Thanksgiving, an apple, Washington’s Birthday 
offered his hatchet, and St. Valentine gave him a 
sugar heart ; and joining hands the children and 
the Holidays danced around him, singing : 

u We all unite in words of praise, 

And crown him king of Holidays.” 

The curtain fell on a tableau : the Holidays, with 
their flags and banners, old Father Time, and the 
happy children. 

The applause was so vehement it had to rise 
again for a moment, and then there was an inter- 
mission while some of the actors changed their cos- 
tumes. 

When the curtain went up for the last time the 
cottage was gone, and in its place appeared a row 
of high-backed chairs on which were seated five 
little ladies in the quaintest of short-waisted gowns, 
each with a reticule on her arm, from which she 
took her needles and began to knit. Then Bess, 
who sat at one end of the line, looked up, and said 
in her own sweet little way : 

“ We’re learning to knit, you see, because 
We wish to be nice grandmammas ; 

You would not care, I ’m sure, a bit 
For a grandmamma who could n’t knit.” 

Dora, who came next, continued : 

u How daintily warm, how soft and sweet, 

The tiny socks for baby’s feet. 


THE HARP MAN’S BENEFIT 


135 


Nothing you ’ll find in all the land 
Fashioned like these by grandma’s hand.” 

Here Elsie took it up : 

u All the older children too can tell 
How grandma’s stockings wear so well, 

And how she makes, with greatest pains, 
Comforters, afghans, balls, and reins.” 

Louise had just made a discovery that surprised 
her, and with shining eyes she recited : 

“ There ’s nothing so good, the children know, 

As grandmamma’s stories of long ago. 
Empty-handed she could not tell 
All the dear old stories half so well.” 

Constance sat at the end of the row, and look- 
ing at the others she said : 

u When she was a girl like you and me, 

’T was then she learned to knit, you see. 

So like her now we must begin 
Carefully putting the stitches in.” 

Then together they recited : 

u Our shining needles we gayly ply, 

Getting ready for by and by. 

Are n’t you glad to know there ’ll be 
Five old ladies as nice as we? ” 

At the last line they rose, each dropped a pro- 
found courtesy and marched from the stage. The 
enthusiastic audience recalled them half a dozen 
times, till Mr. Hazeltine was obliged to announce 
that the entertainment was over. 


136 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


No one had enjoyed it more than a person who 
sat in an easy-chair, where without any effort she 
could see all that went on. 

Here the children gathered when it was over, 
exclaiming, “ Why, Miss Brown, we did not know 
you were coming ! How did you get here, and 
how did you like it?” 

It was of no use to try to answer so many ques- 
tions, so she only laughed and said she had enjoyed 
herself immensely. 

Then they must rush off to see how much money 
had been taken in. 

Mr. Caruth, who had been pressed into service as 
doorkeeper by Cousin Helen, was in the hall with 
Aunt Zeiie. 

“Here are nine dollars and a half for you, 
Grandma,” he said, putting a box into Louise’s 
hands. 

“ Oh, thank you ! Then that will be enough with 
the basket money. Don’t you think our entertain- 
ment was pretty good, Mr. Caruth ? ” she asked. 

“ Delightful ! I was just telling Mrs. Howard 
that it was a star performance,” he answered. 

“ I don’t know what that is, but Aunt Zeiie and 
Cousin Helen made it all up, every bit,” Bess said 
proudly. 

The performers were so enchanted with the even- 
ing’s fun that they refused to take off their gay 
costumes, and declared one and all that they meant 
to see the old year out. 


THE HARP MAN'S BENEFIT. 


137 


The Father of his Country forgot his dignity, 
and cut up all sorts of antics with April Fool’s 
Day. Even Father Time joined in the fun, and 
Christmas and New Year bestrewed the floor with 
cotton batting as they danced with the old ladies. 

But they were tired out before midnight, and 
when the city bells rang in the new year they were 
all sound asleep and heard not a bit of it. 

And this is what came of it : 

Of course in the first place the harp was mended 
and paid for, and its owner was able once more to 
earn something for his family. With her burden 
thus made lighter, Marie worked away cheerfully 
at her embroidery, and Tina went happily to school 
in the warm dress Mrs. Howard gave her. Many 
were the blessings invoked on the heads of the 
young people who had helped them ! 

“ But after all,” said Bess, “ it was only fun for 
us.” 

In the second place Uncle William was so pleased 
with the five old ladies that a charming idea came 
into his head. After a consultation with Miss 
Brown, he sent them one Saturday afternoon a 
note and a big bundle. Here is the note : 

My dear little Friends : I was delighted the other 
night to find that your small fingers were already learning 
to be useful, and I take the liberty of giving them some 
more work to do. I know an old colored woman who, after 
spending most of her life in taking care of little children, 
is now paralyzed, and can only lie in bed. Nothing pleases 


188 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


her so much as bright colors, so I want you to make her a 
gay afghan. She will not mind any uneven stitches if they 
happen to get in, and will be very proud of it. 

I send the yarn of which to make it. There are to be five 
stripes, one for each of you. 

Hoping that you will enjoy the work, and at the same 
time the thought that it is to please a poor old invalid, I 
am affectionately your friend, 

William S. Hazeltine. 

The bundle when it was unrolled was found to 
contain some of the oddest-looking balls of yam 
that ever were seen. 

“ I think he must have wound them himself,” 
remarked Louise, shaking her head over the lumpy, 
unsymmetrical ball she held. 

However, Miss Brown said the shape did not 
matter, and work was begun with great interest. 
Dora was the first to make a discovery, perhaps 
because she could knit more rapidly than the others. 
One of the lumps in her ball proved to be caused 
by something rolled in tissue paper. Feeling sure 
that this was the key to one of Uncle William’s 
surprises, they looked on eagerly while she pulled 
the paper off and found a gold thimble with her 
name on it. Not long after Elsie found a tiny pair 
of scissors. Never had any work been so delight- 
ful ! It usually happened that some one of the 
gay balls yielded a prize each Saturday afternoon. 
Sometimes only a big sugar plum, but oftener 
something pretty and useful. A tiny book of 
texts, a dainty handkerchief rolled into smallest 


THE HARP MAN'S BENEFIT. 


139 


compass, rings of twisted gold with the letters M.K. 
on bangles attached to them, — these were some of 
the things found in the wonder balls, for that is 
what they are called in Germany, where Mr. Hazel- 
tine first heard of them. 

u It is so exactly like him, I thought he must 
have invented it himself,” said Dora. 


140 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


CHAPTER XIV. 

CLOUDS. 

The beautiful snow-storm which came two weeks 
after Christmas seemed to he the cause of all the 
unhappiness, though the real reason for it was to 
be found in quite another quarter. 

A deep snow followed by a week of clear cold 
weather seldom came more than once during the 
winter in this part of the country, and the children 
were wild with delight. Aunt Zelie was obliged 
to do a little of the curbing that Aunt Marcia so 
often advised, and Bess and Louise thought it hard 
that they were not allowed to hitch their sleds 
behind wagons as Carl and Ikey did. 

The boys first got into trouble. They began at 
once building forts in their playground at school, 
and were soon divided into two opposing forces, 
each with one of the older boys for captain. 

For a time things went very well, and Carl and 
Ikey, though they belonged to different sides, could 
discuss their battles good-naturedly. But this did 
not last. One day the cry of “Not fair” arose; 
someone was hurt and resented it, his friends took 
it up, and all good feeling went to the winds. 
When the bell called them in there were some 


CLOUDS. 


141 


bad bruises, and, worse still, angry looks and accu- 
sations. 

On the way home the dispute ran high between 
Carl and Ikey. The first-named in particular was 
very much excited, and declared he wanted noth- 
ing more to do with cheats. Ikey retorted warmly, 
with natural indignation, and so they parted. 

About the same time discord arose among the 
girls. 

Mr. Hazeltine had had a slide made for the chil- 
dren in the back yard. It was built from the top 
of the stable loft, and was as good a substitute for 
a hill as such an affair could be. Here they had a 
grand time till one day when Elsie insisted it was 
her turn to slide. 

“No, it is Dora’s,” objected Louise. “Isn’t 
it, Constance ? ” 

But Constance, always devoted to Elsie, was not 
sure. Bess and Helen both agreed with Louise. 

“ I am sure it is my turn to slide,” said Dora, 
“ but if Elsie thinks it is hers, I 'd rather have her 
take it.” 

Bess had very positive ideas of fairness, however, 
and would not give up. “ No,” she declared, “ it is 
her turn, and we must play fair or it is n’t any fun.” 

“ But I know it is my turn,” said Elsie, equally 
stubborn ; “ Connie thinks so too.” 

“Never mind, Bess,” pleaded Dora. 

“ I shall mind ; for when Louise and Helen and I 
all say it is your turn, and only Constance thinks 


142 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


it is Elsie’s, yon have a — a majority, and she 
ought to see it.” 

“ Yes,” added Louise, admiring her sister’s big 
word; “I think you ought, Elsie.” 

“And it is our slide,” put in Helen very un- 
wisely. 

“ That does n’t make any difference,” Bess hast- 
ened to say ; but the mischief was done. 

“ Then keep your old slide,” Elsie cried angrily. 
“ I would n’t be so selfish. Come, Constance, let’s 
not stay where they don’t want us.” 

“ Don’t go, Elsie ; it is not worth quarrelling 
about,” urged Dora ; but she would n’t listen and 
walked off with an air of offended dignity, followed 
rather reluctantly by Constance. Dora wanted to 
go after her, hut Louise held her fast. 

“ Don’t go, Dody ; it won’t do a hit of good. If 
she is mad, she can just be mad.” 

They took a few more slides, finding it not half 
so much fun as before. Dora looked very sober, 
for quarrelling was something she was not accus- 
tomed to, and after a visit to Carie, who was sick 
with a cold, she went home feeling exceedingly 
uncomfortable. Perhaps it would be all right 
to-morrow, she thought, hut that did not prove 
to be the case. 

When they met at school Elsie entirely ignored 
Bess and Louise, who in their turn treated her with 
a lofty indifference wonderful to behold. 

“ I am not at all mad at you, Dora,” Elsie said 


CLOUDS. 


143 


to her; “but I am at Bess and Louise, for they 
were impolite. I am not going to speak to them 
till they say they are sorry.” 

“ Oh, dear ! I feel as though it were my fault 
in some way. It will spoil our club and every- 
thing,” sighed Dora. 

How long this unhappy state of affairs might 
have continued had not the Big Front Door taken 
matters in hand, it is impossible to say. 

On the afternoon of the quarrel Elsie had a story 
book with her, which in her hasty departure she 
forgot. She remembered it before she reached 
home, but did not like to go back. The next day 
she planned a very cold note which was to be 
carried by one of the servants. Mrs. Morris, how- 
ever, saw no reason why her daughter should not 
do her own errand, and all arguments were in vain. 
Finding that it was of no use to plead, after some re- 
bellious tears' she decided to go for her book herself. 

Bess, Louise, and Dora were studying their 
history lesson together, when Joanna came in to 
say that Elsie was downstairs and wanted the book 
she had left. 

“ I wonder,” said Bess, when it had been found 
and sent down, “if she will come to the club.” 

After they went back to their lessons Dora’s 
thoughts kept wandering off to that miserable 
quarrel, and she said, as she put on her hat, “ If 
Elsie were willing to make up, you would be, 
wouldn’t you?” 


144 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


“ Oh, yes,” they both answered readily, Louise 
adding, “ but she does n’t want to.” 

Elsie felt rather uncomfortable as she sat in the 
library. She hoped that none of the children 
would come in and find her there. She could not 
help remembering the pleasant time she had had 
in that very room a few weeks ago, getting ready 
for the New Year’s eve entertainment, and for a 
moment she was sorry about the quarrel. 

When Joanna brought her the book she hurried 
away, and, opening the front door for herself, 
pulled it to behind her with a bang, when to her 
dismay she found herself held fast. The door had 
closed on her dress. She pulled and twisted, but 
it was of no use — she was a prisoner. She could 
not reach the bell, and only a dead latch-key would 
open it from the outside. It was late in the after- 
noon and few people were passing ; then too she did 
not like to call for help. The poor child felt her- 
self to be in a somewhat ridiculous position, and if 
she dreaded anything it was being made fun of. 

Suppose Carl should come in and find her ! He was 
such a tease he would tell the other boys, and they 
would think it a great joke. The wind was so cold 
and penetrating that after a little Elsie forgot her 
fear of being laughed at, and began to long for any- 
body who would release her. All the passers-by 
seemed to be on the other side of the street. Once 
she called to a colored boy, but he only looked at 
her stupidly and went on. 


CLOUDS. 


145 


“ Oh, dear ! what shall I do ! ” she cried, sinking 
down on the cold marble step. u I wish I had 
never thought of my book.” 

She wondered what Bess and Louise would think 
if she were found frozen to death on their doorstep. 
Her mother would be sorry she had not allowed one 
of the servants to take her note. There was some 
comfort in this thought. Then — was that really 
someone coming down the walk at the side of the 
house ? She held her breath. Yes, it certainly 
was. She immediately returned to life. 

It was Dora on her way home, so busy thinking 
that she started when Elsie called her. 

“ Why, Elsie Morris,” she exclaimed as she 
caught sight of the forlorn figure on the door- 
step. 

“ Oh, Dora, please help me. I am caught and 
can’t get out.” 

“ Have you been here all this time ? ” Dora asked, 
running up the steps in great surprise. “ Shall I 
ring the bell or go around?” pausing with her 
hand on the knob. 

“ You ’d better ring. I don’t want to see the 
girls.” 

Dora’s hand still rested on the bell, but she hesi- 
tated. “Elsie,” she said, “I just believe this has 
happened so we can make up. W on’t you ? I know 
that Bess and Louise will if you will. Think how 
unhappy we are ! We can’t have any more good 
times.” Dora felt that she had the advantage. 


146 


THE BIG FRONT BOOR. 


“ No,” said Elsie crossly ; “ and I wish you would 
ring that bell ; I am as cold as I can be. It was my 
turn, and it was selfish and mean in them not to let 
me have it.” 

“ Oh, Elsie, they are not selfish ; they are always 
ready to do what we like, but they thought it was 
my turn. That is why I feel so badly about it ; 
for if it had been her own turn I think Bess would 
have given up. Please, please promise to make 
up.” 

That Dora cared a great deal was plain, for her 
eyes were full of tears, and those tears did much 
towards gaining the victory. 

“ I am not the least bit mad with you, Dora,” 
Elsie hastened to say, “but I am with Bess. Please 
ring the bell.” 

“In one minute, if you will only promise to 
make up.” 

“Dora Warner, I tell you I can't ” stamping her 
foot. “I can’t say it wasn’t my turn, for that 
would be a story.” 

“ That won’t make any difference, for you need 
not say anything about it, only that you are will- 
ing to make up. You think you were right, and 
Bess thinks she was right, so all you have to do is 
not to say anything about it. Please, Elsie.” 

Dora’s logic may not have been altogether con- 
vincing, but her earnestness was not to be resisted. 

“Well,” began the prisoner, “I suppose I shall 
freeze to death if I don’t, so I will only — ” 


CLOUDS. 


147 


Dora waited for nothing more, hut gave the bell 
a joyous pull. 

Louise, who was on her way upstairs, ran back 
to see who was at the door. 

“ Why, it is Dora ! ” she exclaimed, opening it. 

It did not take long to explain, and Elsie was 
glad to sit down by the register in the hall and 
make it up in earnest. 

Bess, who heard them talking and ran down, was 
quite ready to meet her more than half way, and no 
one would have guessed, seeing their friendliness, 
that an hour ago they were not on speaking terms. 

Elsie was pitied and petted to her heart’s content, 
while Dora beamed on them like a genial little sun 
which had at last made its way through the clouds. 

Aunt Zelie heard the whole story that night. 

“ Was n’t it funny, Elsie’s getting caught ? ” said 
Louise. “ I believe it is really a magic door ; Dora 
thinks so too.” 

“ I don’t know. It seems to me if the rest of 
you had been as anxious for peace as she was, 
the door need not have come to your relief. If 
you had each been trying to help,” said her aunt. 

“ I believe I have been forgetting the text,” 
Bess said gravely. 

If only the quarrel between Carl and Ikey could 
have been settled as quickly. A week passed and 
matters did not mend. The walk to and from 
school was now taken alone, and neither made any 
sign of recognition when they met. Ikey was 


148 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


miserable at the sight of Carl’s intimacy with Jim, 
and he imagined, too, that Mrs. Howard took her 
nephew’s part, and this was hardest of all. 

The fact was Aunt Zelie knew little or nothing 
about it. She had a house full of company, and 
Carie was sick besides. 

In spite of appearances to the contrary, Carl 
was no happier than his friend, and quite as keenly 
missed the daily companionship in lessons and 
play. It had its effect in making him overbearing 
and fault-finding in an unusual degree. The fam- 
ily began to wonder what had happened to merry, 
good-tempered Carl, when one Saturday morning 
matters reached a climax. As he came upstairs 
from the library where he had been copying a 
composition, his father called to him from the hall 
below. Running into the girls’ room, he laid his 
paper on the table there, with strict injunctions to 
them not to touch it. 

Some minutes passed before his return, and 
Helen, who was apt to be attracted by forbidden 
fruit, could not resist going over to look at it. “ I 
only want to see if I can read it,” she said in reply 
to a warning word from Bess, who passed through 
the room on her way to the star chamber, where 
she and Louise were busy. 

Helen, left to herself, was seized with a desire to 
make a capital S like Carl’s. Finding a pen and 
some ink, she set to work, forgetting everything 
else till Bess, returning for something, exclaimed, 


CLOUDS. 


149 


“Why, Helen, what are you doing*? Here he 
comes.” 

Very much startled, she looked around quickly, 
and the pen fell from her unaccustomed fingers 
upon the composition, scattering ink in every direc- 
tion. At this moment her brother entered the 
room, and at one glance took in Helen’s frightened 
look and the blotted paper. 

“ Did n’t I tell you not to touch that ? ” he thun- 
dered, all the stored-up anger of weeks coming to 
the surface, and, springing forward, he caught her 
by the shoulder, gave her a furious shake, and 
pushed her from him with all his strength. With 
a frightened scream she fell backwards, striking her 
head against the edge of the half-open door. 

“ You wicked boy ! ” cried Bess, greatly shocked; 
“ perhaps you have killed her.” 

But Helen’s cries told that it was not so bad as 
this. Everybody came running to see what the 
matter was, and Joanna picked her up and carried 
her into Aunt Zelie’s room, where it was found that 
a large lump on her head and a bruise on her arm 
were the worst of her injuries. Bess told how it 
happened. 

“ I can’t think what ails Carl lately,” said 
Louise. 

“ He is a mean, hateful boy,” sobbed Helen ; “ I 
don’t care if I did spoil his composition.” 

Feeling that it would be of no use to talk to her 
then, Aunt Zelie left her to the tender minis tra- 


150 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


tions of her sisters and Joanna, and went to seek 
the chief offender. 

He was still in the girls’ room, standing his 
ground defiantly. 

The moment’s fright lest he had hurt Helen 
badly had passed, and the sight of his composition 
stirred his anger afresh. 

“ Is it true that you threw your sister down? ” 
His aunt stood before him with a look in her dark 
eyes which it was not pleasant to meet. 

Carl glanced down, but answered, “Yes, and 
here is what she did ! ” holding up the blotted 
paper. 

“Does that excuse your unmanliness, your — 
you might have killed her, you know. I can’t talk 
to you now, Carl ; you ’d better go to your room. I 
can’t tell you how disappointed I am.” 

He never thought of not following her sugges- 
tion ; indeed, he was glad to get away from those 
indignant eyes. 

“ Of course,” he muttered to himself, “ I am all to 
blame and nothing is said to Helen about spoiling 
my work. Boys are always found fault with, but 
girls can do anything.” 

Down in his heart he knew this was not true, but 
he chose to think it. He flung himself into a chair 
by the window. It was a gloomy, thawing day ; the 
snow, as if aghast at the trouble it had caused, was 
melting sadly away. There was nothing in the 
prospect to make him feel cheerful. After a while 


CLOUDS. 


151 


he went to work on his composition again, and as 
he wrote he felt more and more like a martyr. 
When it was finished he folded it and put it away, 
and began to think it must be near lunch- time. 
With the door closed, there in the third story he 
could not hear the bell ; however, he would not go 
down ,* if they wanted him they might send for him. 
By two o’clock he was feeling deeply injured. No- 
body cared whether he starved or not. Then he 
remembered that Uncle William was to take them 
to see Hermann that afternoon. By this time they 
must have gone without him. Carl threw himself 
on the bed and shed some tears of vexation and dis- 
appointment. All the while something was whis- 
pering to him that he deserved to be unhappy. 
The afternoon dragged slowly ; he grew very hun- 
gry, and at last saying to himself that he would go 
and get some biscuit, and “ Tom Sawyer,” one 
of his favorite books, he went softly downstairs. 

The house was so quiet that the sight of Mr. 
Smith asleep on a hall chair was a positive relief. 
After visiting the pantry he went to the library for 
his book. The door was half open, and when he 
reached it he suddenly stopped, for there was Aunt 
Z61ie by the table with her head bowed on her 
arms. Evidently she had not heard him, and Carl 
almost held his breath. He thought she was crying ; 
he was not sure, but certainly she was unhappy. 
It came to him in that moment, as it never had 
before, how tender and sweet and helpful she was. 


152 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR . 


She had sorrow of her own, he knew, and who was 
there to comfort her as she comforted others ? And 
he had disappointed her — had behaved shamefully. 
As he stood there it seemed to him that he must have 
been crazy. He could not endure the sight of that 
sorrowful figure, and turning to go away, instead ; 
the next minute he was kneeling beside her say- 
ing, “Aunt Zelie, I am so sorry.” 

She was startled, for she had not heard him ; 
but she turned and put her arms around him for 
a moment, without speaking. 

“ Aunt Z61ie, I know how contemptible I am ; you 
ought not to have anything to do with me,” Carl 
exclaimed in a great buret of contrition. She took 
his hand and held it fast as she answered, “ I can’t 
throw stones at you, dear, but perhaps I can help 
you to learn the lesson I have had to learn many 
times.” 

He never forgot that afternoon. How he sat 
beside her with his head on her shoulder, while she 
talked to him as she had never talked before. How 
his face glowed with mingled shame and pride as 
she said that, of all the children, he was, if possible, 
the dearest to her. 

“ But I have more fear for you than for the 
others. I long to have you grow up a strong, 
true man — master of yourself in every sense. If 
you do not, I shall feel that in some way it is my 
fault.” 

“ I will try to be what you want me to be — like 



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“He told her about the Trouble at School.” 



CLOUDS. 


153 


Uncle Carl — if I can; and nobody in the world 
could help me as you do.” 

“ I shall not leave you till you leave me,” Aunt 
Z61ie said, smiling rather wistfully at the tall boy. 

“ That will be never, and I will always take care 
of you,” answered Carl, laying his cheek against 
her hand. He told her about the trouble at school 
too, finding it a relief to confess everything and she 
listened gravely. 

“ For a little misunderstanding like this, a little 
hateful pride, pleasant friendships are given up, 
and the good times we expected to have in the 
club this winter ! Have my Good Neighbors for- 
gotten their motto already ? ” 

“ I ’m afraid so,” Carl said, thinking how hard it 
would be to make things right again. 

“ Have you told Father ? ” he asked. 

“ No, he did not come to lunch.” 

“ Then I shall have to tell him,” with a sigh. 

This was not an easy thing to do. That they 
were the best of companions and friends made it 
all the harder, for he felt he had forfeited the right 
to this good-fellowship. 

Carl told his story with such evident shame and 
repentance that, though he listened with a grave 
face, Mr. Hazeltine could not find it in his heart to 
be very severe. 

“ I did not think,” he said, “ that my only son 
could be guilty of such a cruel and ungentlemanly 
act.” 


154 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


Carl winced at this. 

“You see,” his father continued, laying his hand 
on his shoulder, “ I always had such a tender feel- 
ing for my little sister that it is hard for me to 
understand how you could be so unkind.” 

It was Carl’s private opinion that Aunt Z61ie 
could never have been so trying as Helen, but 
he did not say so. They had a serious talk, 
and for a week after, Carl was seen only at the 
table, for he and his father decided that as he 
had sinned against the happiness of the family, he 
must forfeit the privileges of the family life for a 
while. 

Everybody was glad when the week was over, 
Carl most of all. 

No one else knew how lonely those evenings 
were, spent in his room, or how he longed to join 
the group around the library fire. 

Helen was deeply impressed by her brother’s 
humble apology, and decided that after all she 
was n’t glad she had spoiled his composition, but 
very sorry she had been so meddlesome. 

Carl lost no time in starting out to find Ikey and 
make friends. 

It was on Monday morning, and they met just 
outside the gate. 

“ Hello ! ” said Carl. 

“ Hello ! ” replied Ikey. 

“ Know your Latin ? ” 

“Hope so, I have studied it a lot,” and they 


CLOUDS. 


155 


walked down street together as if nothing had 
happened. 

“Where were you going this morning when I 
met you ? Carl asked when his neighbor came in, 
in the old way, with his hooks that afternoon. 

“ I was coming over for you. I was tired of it.” 

“ Were you ? Why, I was going for you ! ” 


156 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


CHAPTER XV. 
dora’s bright idea. 

One thing troubled Carl. It was that Dora 
knew all about it. She came to lunch that dread- 
ful Saturday to go with the others to see Her- 
mann, and of course Helen’s bruises and his own 
absence had to be accounted for. 

On his way home from school one morning he 
saw her and her mother coming towards him on 
the other side of the street. When they were 
within speaking distance, Mrs. Warner bowed, but 
Dora looked in another direction as if she wished 
not to see him. 

Carl was hurt and mortified, for he was sure he 
knew the reason. 

“ I don’t care, it is mean to be so hard on a fel- 
low. Aunt Z61ie is n’t,” he said to himself. 

He did care, however, and was silent and gloomy 
at lunch. As he left the room on his way upstairs 
to study he heard Bess say, u Dora had such an 
accident to-day.” But he did not wait to hear what 
it was. 

An hour later, having an errand to do up town, 
he went off alone instead of asking Ikey to go with 
him as usual. 


DORA'S BRIGHT IDEA. 


157 


The clear, cold air was making him cheerful in 
spite of himself, when, as he drew near home after 
a long walk, he saw two familiar figures in front of 
him. His spirits immediately fell, for they were 
Ikey and Dora chatting together most sociably. 
Carl suddenly felt jealous. 

He knew they were great friends, and he never 
had dreamed of objecting till now that he was him- 
self out of favor. He began to walk slowly that 
he might not overtake them, his pride keeping him 
from turning hack and going home some other 
way. 

They paused a moment when they reached the 
corner; then Ikey, with his politest bow, left her 
and crossed the street. Dora stood waiting. Carl 
advanced, trying to look unconscious and indif- 
ferent. 

Her smile changed to a puzzled look, and then 
became positive astonishment when he was passing 
without a word. 

Always straightforward, she exclaimed, “Why, 
Carl ! Are n’t you going to speak to me ? I am on 
my way to your house.” 

“ I thought you would not care to speak to me, 
you did n’t this morning,” he answered somewhat 
loftily. 

, “Not speak to you? I don’t know what you 
mean.” 

“ You would not this morning,” he persisted. 

“Oh, I know now! How absurd ! Didn’t the 


158 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


girls tell you about my glasses getting broken? 
It must have been when I was going to have them 
.mended. You know I am so near-sighted I can’t 
see across the street without them.” 

Carl looked rather foolish. Dora had worn glasses 
only a short time, and he had not noticed their 
absence. 

“ You knew I would not do such a thing; how 
could you be so silly ? ” She was decidedly vexed 
with him. 

“I thought perhaps you really did not care to 
have anything to do with me after — ” 

“You thought I would stop speaking to you for 
that ! ” she exclaimed. “ Why Bess told me how 
sorry you were, and at any rate it would have 
been acting as if I never did wrong myself.” 

“You wouldn’t do anything so horrid.” 

“ I was a little surprised at you,” Dora acknowl- 
edged, “ but it is so disagreeable not to be friends 
with people. I am glad you and Ikey have made 
up ; he was telling me about it.” 

By this time they had reached the gate, and 
Carl said, “ I don’t think the girls are at home ; 
they were going out with Aunt Zelie, but you 
might come in and wait, if you don’t mind talking 
to me while I look over some books for father.” 

“ I don’t mind talking to you,” she answered, 
laughing, “but I can’t stay long. I want ‘Water 
Babies.’ Louise said I could have it to read.” 

“ Come in, *then, and I ’ll find it for you.” 


DORA'S BRIGHT IDEA. 


159 


They went up to the star chamber together, and 
Dora sat down in the west window, where a little 
wintry sunshine still lingered, while Carl looked 
for the book. 

“ I can’t see how you could be such a goose as 
to think I would not speak to you,” she said pres- 
ently. 

“ I suppose I knew I deserved it.” Carl laid 
‘‘Water Babies ” on her lap, and, kneeling on the 
floor with his elbows on the window-sill and his 
chin in his hands, looked thoughtfully out at the 
bare branches of the maples. 

“ I ’ll tell you what it is,” he said after a minute’s 
silence, “ Aunt Zelie is a trump.” 

“ I know that, only I ’d call her a prettier name,” 
said Dora, smiling. 

“ You can't know really till you have been very 
bad. She was so good to me. It makes a fellow 
feel awfully when somebody like her cares a lot for 
him and he goes and disappoints her.” 

“ But you won’t again, I ’m sure.” 

“ You see,” Carl went on, “ she cares for me 
particularly because I am named for Uncle Carl. 
Has Bess or Louise ever told you about him?” 

Dora shook her head. 

“ He was Mamma’s brother, you know, and he 
was splendid. I thought there was nobody like 
him when I was a little fellow. He used to be 
here a great deal, and we were glad when he 
married Aunt Zelie because we were so fond of 


160 THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 

* 

them both. The only thing we did not like about 
it was that Aunt Z6lie went away to live, but 
they came to see us very often. Then Uncle Carl 
died. He was skating with some people, and a 
friend of his went where the ice would n’t hold, 
and broke through. Nobody knew just what to 
do, it was so hard to get to him on the broken ice, 
and the man couldn’t swim. Uncle Carl saw that 
he would drown before help came, so he went right 
into the freezing water and held up his head till 
they brought ropes.” 

“ He was n’t drowned, was he ? ” Dora asked in 
an awestruck voice. 

“No, but he was in the water so long that it 
made him ill. The other man got well. It hap- 
pened not long before Mamma died. Then, you 
know, Aunt Z£lie came back to us.” 

“You must be glad you are named for him.” 

“ Yes, I am, only I am not good enough. I am 
afraid I shall never do anything brave like that.” 

“ I think, perhaps, little things have to come 
first,” said Dora wisely, adding, “ He was helping, 
was n’t he ? ” 

“ I had not thought of that,” said Carl. 

As she walked home an idea came into Dora’s 
head, which interested her so much that “ Water 
Babies ” lay unopened on her lap for half an hour 
that night. Next' day she confided it to Bess and 
Louise, who highly approved. 

“ Why, Dora, you are very clever. When you 


DORA'S BRIGHT IDEA. 


161 


are grown up you will be as good at thinking of 
things as Aunt Zelie,” said Bess. 

“You think of pretty good things yourself* 
Bess,” added Louise. 

“ And so do you, for you first thought of trying 
to help the harp man,” said Dora merrily. 

“ The G.N. Club meets to-night, and we ’ll ask 
the boys to let us in. You come over to dinner,” 
Louise suggested. 

“ They won’t do it,” said her sister positively. 

“Oh, perhaps they will if we are very polite ; we 
will try.” 

The weekly meetings of the G.N. Club had 
begun again with great interest. No one enjoyed 
them more than Aunt Zdlie, and nothing was 
allowed to interfere with this engagement with the 
boys if she could help it. However, it happened 
this evening that some old friends of the family 
who were passing through the city on their way 
south called, and it was impossible to excuse her- 
self, so the boys were left to their own devices. 

Though the star chamber looked as cheerful as 
usual and Carl did, his best as host, it was not 
quite the same without her. 

Jim recalled with wonder that first evening when 
he hoped she would not come. The rehearsals for 
the harp man’s benefit had made them all feel very 
well acquainted with her and one another. 

They were beginning work on some screens 
for the Children’s Hospital when there came a 


162 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


knock at the door. Ikey opened it and Carie 
walked in. 

“ I came to bring you a letter,” she announced, 
handing Carl a folded paper, and shyly surveying 
the rest of the company from behind him. 

He read it aloud. 

To the O.N.C. : 

We should like to come to your meeting this evening, if 
you will let us. We have a splendid plan to tell you. 
Dora thought of it. Send reply by bearer. 

Yours truly, 

Bess Hazeltine. 
Louise Hazeltine. 
Dora Warner. 

“ Shall we let them come ? ” he asked. 

“Of course,” said Jim, and as nobody was 
actively opposed, Carl scribbled, “ Come on,” on 
the back of their elegant note. 

Within five minutes the girls were established 
in their midst, quite as if they belonged there. 

When the screens were duly admired and their 
offers of help politely declined, Bess explained the 
object of their visit. 

“ We think it would be nice, now that we 
have n’t secrets any more, and because you helped 
us with the harp man’s benefit, for our clubs to be 
friends and meet together sometimes. Dora has 
thought of a beautiful plan. Won’t you tell about 
it yourself, Dora?” 


DORA'S BRIGHT IDEA. 


163 


“ It is nothing very great,” she began modestly. 
“ Y ou know in the days of chivalry how all the 
knights belonged always to some order, — like the 
Knights Templars in 4 Ivanhoe,’ — and perhaps 
there are some now ; I don’t know.” 

“There is the Independent Order of Odd Fel- 
lows,” suggested Will, and Carl added, “Joanna’s 
young man belongs to the Ancient Order of some- 
thing.” 

“ Then I don’t see why we should n’t have one,” 
Dora went on, laughing. 44 My idea was to unite 
our two clubs in an order, and call it the Order 
of the Big Front Door. We both have the same 
motto and are trying to help, so it would not be 
anything really new, except that we could have a 
badge to remind us, and have meetings together 
sometimes. The story of the Magic Door put it 
into my head.” 

44 Good for you, Dora ! I ’m for it ! ” cried Ikey. 

The funny name took the boys’ fancy, and the 
plan of having joint meetings was not altogether 
objectionable. The story of the Magic Door had 
to be explained to some of them, and while Bess 
was doing this Aunt Zelie came in. She was sur- 
prised and delighted to see the visitors, and when 
the new project was told again for her benefit, she 
thought it a very good one. 

44 1 was trying myself to think of some way of 
keeping our motto in mind, and now you must 
let me furnish the badges. The name, Order of 


164 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


the Big Front Door, has given me an idea about 
them.” 

“ What, Aunt Zelie ? ” asked Louise. “ I am 
sure it is lovely.” 

Her aunt only laughed, and would not tell. 

“Just as soon as I can get them,” she said, “ I ’ll 
call a meeting of the Order.” 


SILVER KEYS. 


165 


CHAPTER XVI. 

SILVER KEYS. 

“ I wonder what they are going to do this 
afternoon,” said little John Armstrong. 

He sat in his usual place in the bay-window, 
with his drawing materials and his books beside 
him, but the doings of certain girls and boys who 
constantly passed to and fro interested him more 
than any story book. 

John was twelve years old and had never had 
a friend of his own age. That sad disease paraly- 
sis laid its hand upon him when he was only a 
baby, so instead of going to school, and running 
and playing like other children, he sat in a wheeled 
chair and looked on. 

He was not exactly unhappy, for he had a quick, 
bright mind, and a love of knowledge which made 
his lessons a pleasure. Everything that love could 
suggest was lavished upon him by his father and 
mother, but they did not guess how he longed for 
the companionship of other children. 

They feared the contrast between himself and 
them would only make him miserable. So in the 
eighteen months since Dr. Armstrong had been 
preaching in the church on the corner, John had 


166 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


hardly spoken to a child. The M.Ks. and the G.Ns. 
never dreamed how eagerly they were watched 
that winter. Some of them seeing him always at 
the window fell into the way of nodding to him as 
they passed. 

He knew their names from hearing them call 
each other, and his favorites were Louise, Ikey, 
and Jim. 

On this particular Saturday afternoon John felt 
that something unusual was going on. Dora passed 
with her work-hag, to be met at the Hazeltines’ gate 
by Bess and Louise, and they seemed to have some- 
thing very interesting to talk about as they crossed 
the street together. 

A moment later Elsie and Constance went up 
the Brown house walk. This happened every 
Saturday, but when nearly an hour had gone by 
Jim Carter appeared. His whistle brought Ikey, 
and then Carl and Aleck, and they stood talking 
almost in front of John’s window. How he did 
wish he could hear what they said ! Presently they 
were joined by Will and Fred, and finally by Mrs. 
Howard, who had a package. Each of the boys 
apparently offered to carry this for her, but she 
declined. Then they, too, crossed the street and 
disappeared within the Brown house. 

This was all John saw, except that Louise and 
Ikey came and sat in the window and seemed to 
be laughing, but that was not unusual. 

It was the first meeting of the Order of the Big 


SILVER KEYS. 


167 


Front Door, that was being held at Miss Brown’s 
this afternoon. 

As the M.Ks. were still at work on Aunt Sallie’s 
afghan, their meeting was put at half-past two in 
order to give them an hour and still leave time for 
the other. When this had passed the knitting was 
put away and more chairs brought in, for the Brown 
house sitting-room was not a spacious apartment, 
and twelve visitors quite filled it. 

Much excitement was caused by the box which 
Aunt Zffiie carried, for of course it held the long- 
expected badges. 

“ It is good of you to meet here,” said Miss 
Brown, giving the G.Ns. a cordial welcome. 

“ It is good of you to let us,” replied Mrs. How- 
ard. “ You belong to the new Order, and must 
have your badge as well as the rest of us. And 
now the meeting will please be in order, especially 
the members on the window-sill. 

“ The first business before us is the election of 
a President. The Tellers will please distribute 
the ballots.” 

This office was performed by Elsie and Aleck, 
who also collected and counted the votes, and an- 
nounced the election of Will Archer. In the same 
way Bess was made Secretary and Ikey Treasurer. 
It was decided that the G.Ns. would give up 
their club once a month for the meeting of the 
Order, when reports from both clubs would be 
made. When this business was finished Aunt 


168 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


Z61ie took up her box, saying, “The next thing is 
the distribution of badges ; but before I take them 
out I want to say a word.” 

“ Hear ! Hear ! ” murmured Carl. 

“No preaching ! ” begged Aleck. 

“ Do, Mrs. Howard, he needs it,” said Dora. 

“Yes, I am going to preach a little. I want you 
to remember that these badges are to keep our 
motto before you. They mean that you promise 
to be helpers, and that is something more than get- 
ting up entertainments as we did for the harp 
man. It means being good-tempered and kind at 
home and in school, doing little thoughtful things 
for people. You remember in the story of the 
Magic Door it was because they forgot this that 
the lock grew rusty and useless, so it seemed to 
me that the most appropriate badge would be 
this.” As she spoke she took from the box a tiny 
silver key. On close inspection it proved to be a 
pin so prettily and ingeniously made that anybody 
might be pleased to wear it. On one side was 
engraved a part of their motto — “ They Helped ” 
— and on the other, the letters O.B.F.D. 

So great was the enthusiasm that all order went 
to the winds. 

“ Are n’t they lovely? ” “ Tiptop ! ” “ Dandy ! ” 
“Too pretty for anything!” 

And no one was more pleased than Miss Brown. 

“ I am afraid I can never be half so good to my 
neighbors as they are to me,” she said, “ but I ’ll try.” 


SILVER KEYS. 


169 


“ As if you were not the nicest neighbor we 
ever had ! ” cried Louise. 

“Let’s give Mrs. Howard a vote of thanks,” 
proposed Jim. 

Ikey looked at him with envy. Jim always 
thought of the right thing. 

“We ought to thank Dora too, for it was her 
idea,” said Carl as the clapping subsided. 

“I did not dream of anything so nice,” said 
Dora, patting her little key. 

“I am glad you are pleased, and I hope they 
will open some rusty locks,” said Aunt Zelie. 

“ And now, if you please, we ’ll adjourn into the 
dining-room,” said Miss Brown. “ This is a very 
special occasion, you know,” she added, in reply to 
a grave shake of the head from Mrs. Howard. 

They drank success to the new Order in choco- 
late, and munched crisp little sugar cakes which 
were cleverly twisted into M’s and K’s. Mary 
had long ago become a friend of the children, and 
this was* her contribution to the occasion; 

“ There is something I should like to suggest,” 
their hostess said as Carl passed the peppermints. 
“ I feel an interest in people who, like myself, can’t 
get about easily, and I have noticed that little lame 
boy over the way, and I wonder if these silver keys 
could not open a door of pleasure for him.” 

“ Will suggested it long ago, but our Christmas 
work put it out of our thoughts,” Mrs. Howard 
replied. 


170 THE BIG FRONT BOOR. 

“ Suppose we go now and take him some M.Ks.,” 
Louise said merrily. 

“We don’t know him,” objected Elsie. 

“ Let Louise and Ikey go, and I will put up some 
cakes and peppermints for him,” said Miss Brown. 

Ikey, though shy when left to himself, was 
always willing to follow Louise, and they went off 
together in high spirits, not in the least subdued by 
Aunt Zdlie’s remark that she hardly thought she 
would care for a visit from two such geese. 

John was still at his window waiting for the 
meeting to be over, and laughed at the sight of 
Louise chasing Ikey around the garden.* They 
seemed to be disputing over something that was 
done up in a napkin. It ended by the former get- 
ting possession, and then, still laughing, they came 
out of the gate and crossed the street. 

John’s heart almost stopped beating for a second. 
Could they be coming to see him ? He felt both 
glad and frightened when the maid announced that 
some children wanted to see him, but he told her 
gravely to ask them up. Louise’s friendliness was 
irresistible, and when she came straight to his side 
holding out her hand and saying, “ How do you 
do, J ohn ? We have been having a meeting at Miss 
Brown’s, and she has sent you some sugar cakes. 
Ikey and I have brought them,” John forgot his 
shyness and felt that she was an old acquaintance. 
He could not think of much to say, but he smiled 
cordially at them. 


SILVER KEYS. 


171 


When the cakes were undone it was of course 
necessary to explain the meaning of so many M’s 
and K’s, and this led to an account of the other 
club, and the Order of the Big Front Door. It 
was like finding the missing pages of a fascinating 
story. 

“And that is what you were doing this after- 
noon ? ” asked John, admiring the little keys. “ I 
did so wonder what was going on when I saw the 
boys go in.” 

“ I did n’t know you were watching us,” said 
Ikey. 

John’s face flushed as he replied, “ I hope you do 
not mind. I often do.” 

Mind ! Of course they did not ! 

The visit was a decided success. When Mrs. 
Armstrong came hurrying in, feeling that she had 
left John a long time alone, she found him with 
very bright eyes, eating sugar cakes. 

This was only the beginning; it soon became 
an established thing for one or two of the Order to 
spend an afternoon each week with the lame boy ; 
and at such times the pleasure was by no means all 
on one side. 


172 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


CHAPTER XVII. 

A PRISONER. 

“I believe I ’ll go to see little John this after- 
noon,” said Louise. 

44 You can take him the last 4 St. Nicholas ’ if you 
do. I ’d rather have you go there than to Dora’s 
or Elsie’s, for then I shall not wish so much that 
I could go with you,” answered Bess, who was to 
spend the afternoon at the dentist’s. 

Louise found the magazine and then walked as far 
as the Armstrongs’ gate with her sister and J oanna. 

“ Good-by,” she said ; 44 I hope Dr. Atmore won’t 
hurt you.” 

Several hours later Bess entered the room where 
Mrs. Howard was taking off her wraps, and asked, 
44 Do you know where Louise is, Aunt Zelie ? ” 

44 Why, no, I have only just come in ; can’t you 
find her? ” 

44 No, Auntie, and I have looked everywhere.” 

44 Surely she must be in the house ; it is nearly 
dark. Did you have your tooth attended to ? ” 

Bess forgot everything else in the interest of 
relating her afternoon’s experience, but when the 
story was finished she began again to wonder what 
had become of Louise. 


A PRISONER. 


173 


“I think Carl has just come in — I hear his 
whistle ; perhaps she is with him,” said Aunt Zdlie. 
But upon inquiry he had not seen her since lunch. 

“ And you have looked everywhere ? In the 
star chamber, and the library, and — ” 

“Yes, and I have asked Sukeyand James, and 
they have not seen her,” Bess replied. 

“ It is a little strange, for she knows I do not 
like to have her out late. She was going to John’s, 
was n’t she ? ” 

“ I know she went there, for she walked as far 
as the gate with me. Perhaps some of the boys 
are there and will bring her home,” said Bess. 

“We will wait a quarter of an hour, and if she 
does not come I ’ll send over to the Armstrongs’,” 
said Mrs. Howard. 

The minutes slipped away, but no Louise ; and 
Joanna, who was sent in search of her, returned 
with the news that she had left there about four 
o’clock. 

“ Oh, dear ! She must be lost ! ” Bess exclaimed. 

“ Louise get lost ! Nonsense ! She could find her 
way anywhere,” said Carl. 

“ I hardly think she can be lost, but I am wor- 
ried about her. Joanna, you ’d better go to Mrs. 
Warner’s, and, Carl, suppose you run over to Miss 
Brown’s, she may be there,” and Aunt Zelie 
walked to the window and looked out into the 
darkness. “ It is beginning to snow,” she said. 

Neither Miss Brown nor the Warners had seen 


174 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


Louise, nor had she been heard of at the Morrises’, 
and they were trying to think what to do next 
when Mr. Hazeltine came in. 

“ Father, she must be lost, don’t you think so ? ” 
asked Bess, when matters were explained to him. 

“ I don’t know what to think,” he answered. 
“Louise is not the kind of a child to get lost 
easily.” 

“ So I say,” added Carl. 

“ Then somebody has stolen her like Charlie 
Ross, and I ’ll never see her again.” 

“ It is too soon to despair, dearie,” said Aunt 
Z61ie, as Bess looked ready to cry. 

“ Suppose we have some dinner, and then if we 
hear nothing in the meantime, I ’ll go to the Arm- 
strongs’ and try to find a clue to start with,” said 
Mr. Hazeltine. 

It was not a cheerful meal, in spite of Aunt 
Z&Lie’s effort to hide her anxiety and talk of other 
things. It seemed as if Louise’s bright face must 
appear each minute ; but dinner was over and no 
word of her. 

The snow was falling fast when Carl and his 
father started out. Little John could tell them 
nothing more than that Louise had been there for 
an hour, and then said she must go, as there was 
something she wanted to do. He watched her out 
of the gate and thought she went home. 

“ It is a great puzzle,” said Carl when they were 
on the street again. 


A PRISONER. 


175 


“It is indeed,” Lis father replied, looking up and 
down irresolutely. 

“ Are yon worried ? What do you think can have 
happened to her ? ” 

“ I don’t know, my son ; yes, I am very much 
worried. I wish William was not away from 
home. I think, perhaps, the best thing I can do 
is to see Roberts.” Roberts was a detective, and 
Carl began to feel that the situation was serious. 

There was nothing for Aunt Zelie and Bess 
to do that long evening but wait and try to . be 
patient. Mr. Hazeltine promised to telephone 
the moment he discovered the least clue to her 
whereabouts. 

And where was Louise ? 

While she and John were playing checkers she 
overheard Mr. Armstrong talking to his wife about 
a book which he evidently was very anxious to 
have, and which he seemed unable to find either at 
the library or the bookstores. 

At the first mention of the title Louise ^as sure 
she had seen it on their own library table at home, 
and remembered hearing her father and uncle dis- 
cuss it. “ I know father will lend it to him,” she 
thought, and was about to say so to Mr. Armstrong, 
when she recollected that Uncle William had bor- 
rowed it. 

“ I am sure he has finished it,” she thought, 
“ and at any rate he has gone to Chicago. I ’ll go 
home and ask Aunt Zelie to let me get it.” Eager 


176 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


to do this kindness, she ran off as soon as the game 
was finished. 

But everybody was out. James was at work in 
the cellar; Mandy so occupied with her pantry 
shelves that she did not know when Louise passed 
through the kitchen ; Sukey had taken Helen and 
Carie for a walk, and Aunt Zelie was at a lecture. 
What should she do ? 

She went up to the star chamber, hoping to find 
Carl and coax him to go with her, but he was not 
there. She wanted very much to get that book 
for Mr. Armstrong. He wished to make use of it 
in a lecture he expected to give on Monday night, 
so it was important that he should have it as soon 
as possible. She knew the way to Uncle William’s 
perfectly, but she and Bess never went so far by 
themselves. 

“ I can go all the way on the cars,” she said to 
herself. “Nothing could happen to me, and I 
can’t ask Aunt Zelie when she is n’t here.” Try- 
ing to satisfy her conscience in this way, she found 
her pocket-book and started out. It happened that 
she saw nobody she knew as she waited on the 
corner for the car, feeling very independent. 

The afternoon was cold and cloudy, and the ride 
seemed longer than usual. 

“ I wish I had asked Dora to come with me,” 
she thought ; “ I shall have to hurry to get back 
before dark.” 

“ I want to go to the library just a minute, 


A PRISONER. 


177 


Bruce,” she said to the man who opened the 
door. 

He looked somewhat surprised to see her alone, 
hut made no comment, only replying, “ I am afraid 
it is rather cold there ; we are having the furnace 
cleaned to-day.” 

“ I only want to get a book. I ’m not going to 
stay. And you need n’t wait, Bruce. I can let my- 
self out,” she said. 

The library was at the end of the hall, almost 
opposite the front door, but somewhat cut off from 
the rest of the house, as it communicated with no 
other room. 

As Louise entered she pushed the door to 
behind her. Yes, there was the volume she wanted 
on the table. Taking it up and turning to go, her 
eyes fell on the corner where Uncle William kept 
his story books — books intended for his young 
guests, which he very much enjoyed reading him- 
self sometimes, and to which he was constantly 
adding. As there seemed to be some new ones, 
Louise sat down to examine them, and before she 
knew it became absorbed. When at length she 
looked up it was beginning to grow dark. 

“Dear me! what will Aunt Zelie say? I must 
hurry,” she exclaimed, and running to the door she 
stopped in bewilderment, for there wasn’t any 
knob, and yet it was securely latched. She was 
very much puzzled. For a few minutes it seemed 
rather funny to be fastened up in Uncle William’s 


178 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


library, but when all her attempts to open the door 
failed it did not seem so much like a joke. She 
tried pounding on it, but any noise such small 
hands might make could not be heard twenty feet 
away. Louise soon realized this ; the servants she 
knew were on the other side of the house and 
might not come near the library till the next day. 
She thought of the windows, and tried them one 
after another, standing on tiptoe on the sill, but 
she could not move the fastenings. The one that 
faced the street was too far back for any possibil- 
ity of attracting the attention of passers-by. 

“ What shall I do? They won’t know what has 
become of me,” she said. She wondered if Bruce 
would not come to turn on the light in the hall, 
only to be disappointed again, for when she peeped 
through the keyhole it was already burning. 
Again and again she tried to move the latch with 
a pen-knife, and then with a paper-cutter, but with- 
out success. 

Then she sat down to think. There was nothing 
to do but wait. She was a brave little person, but 
as she saw how dark it was growing and thought 
of home with all its light and cheer she could not 
keep the tears out of her eyes. 

How foolish she had been, and naughty, too ! 
What right had she to the book ? She ought to 
have asked her father’s permission before she 
thought of going for it. This was all quite clear 
now. 


A PRISONER. 


179 


The room was cold, and outside the wind 
whistled about the house. The snow had begun 
to fall so thickly that when she went to the window 
she could not see the street. It was some comfort 
to turn on the electric light, but it did not keep 
her from being cold and tired and hungry. The 
clock said a quarter past six ; in a few minutes 
more they would be eating dinner at home. Some- 
body must come; she couldn’t stay there all 
night. 

She went to the door again and called ‘‘ Bruce ! 
Bruce ! ” till she was tired. Slowly the hands of 
the clock moved on : seven ; half-past ; eight. Her 
excited imagination began to bring to her mind all 
the stories of burglars she had ever heard. Suppose 
some one should come to rob the house, knowing 
the family were away ! She was afraid to take her 
eyes oft the door, and much as she longed for 
release she almost dreaded to see it open. She sat 
on the floor, pulling a great bear-skin rug over 
her, and by and by she fell asleep with her head 
on a chair. Then she dreamed that she was out in 
a sleigh in a furious snow-storm. Carl was with 
her and Bruce was driving, and they were chased 
by wolves. (This was probably suggested by the 
story she had been reading, which was one of Rus- 
sian adventure.) The wolves gained upon them, 
though they seemed to be going like the wind ; she 
felt their hot breath on her face as they climbed 
over the back of the sleigh. Just as she was being 


180 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


dragged out she thought Carl cried, 44 There goes 
Louise ! ” Then she opened her eyes to find her- 
self on the library floor, with Mr. Caruth and 
Bruce standing over her, and Dan, the big mastiff, 
trying to lick her face. The clock on the mantel 
said half-past ten. 

About half an hour earlier Mr. Caruth, going- 
home on a street-car, met an acquaintance who 
remarked that he had just seen Mr. Hazeltine, who 
was much worried over the disappearance of his 
little girl. His informer did not know which of 
the children it was, or any particulars, and after 
riding another block Mr. Caruth rang the bell and 
got off, intending to go back to the Hazeltines and 
learn the truth of the matter. 

On his way to take the down-town car he passed 
Mr. William Hazeltine’s house. He noticed that 
only a dim light burned in the hall, and recalled 
the fact that they were out of town, but happening 
to glance in the direction of the library he was sur- 
prised to see it brilliantly illuminated. Hesitating 
for a moment, he turned and went up the steps. 
44 1 ’ll take occasion to ask Bruce if he knows any- 
thing about one of the children getting lost,” he 
said to himself. 

After some minutes the door was opened by the 
sleepy-looking man, who was not disposed to be 
quite amiable. In reply to Mr. Caruth’s question 
he said he knew nothing about it. 

44 Well, see here, Bruce, what does that light in 


A PRISONER. 


181 


the library mean? Mr. and Mrs. Hazeltine are 
both away, are n’t they ? ” 

The man looked at him in surprise, and said 
there was n’t any light in the library. 

“ Just come out here, then, and tell me what you 
call this,” and Mr. Caruth led the way to the 
corner of the house. 

“ I have n’t been near the library since morning, 
sir,” the astonished man exclaimed. 

“ How about the other servants ? ” 

“ They are all away but the cook, and she went 
to bed an hour ago. There was a man here attend- 
ing to some locks, but he left about noon.” 

“It can’t be burglars, for they wouldn’t leave 
the blinds open. We must look into this,” said 
Mr. Caruth, as they entered the house. 

The dog had followed Bruce to the door, and 
under his protection they entered the library. 

A more unexpected sight could hardly have met 
their gaze — Louise fast asleep on the floor, with 
the bear-skin partly covering her ! 

Dan’s cold nose aroused her, and she started up 
with wide-open, bewildered eyes. 

“ Don’t be frightened, it is only Dan,” said Mr. 
Caruth, lifting her into a chair. “ Get wide awake 
and then tell us why you are spending the night 
here. I am afraid from what I hear that they are 
worried about you at home.” 

“ I ’m awake now and I must go. You will take 
me, won’t you ? ” said Louise, rising and pushing 


182 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


back her hair, and looking about for her hat. “ I did 
not mean to stay here,” she added, “ but I could n’t 
get out — there is n’t any knob on the door.” 

Bruce, who had been standing open-mouthed, 
turned at this to examine the door, and sure 
enough there was a knob on the outside, but not 
on the inside. He could not explain why it had 
been left so ; he only knew that the man who came 
to make some change in the door-knobs had said 
that something was wrong and he could not finish 
the work till the next day. 

A long ring at the bell startled Mrs. Howard, 
and aroused Bess from a troubled doze on the sofa. 
They ran into the hall just as Joanna, who was 
on the watch, opened the door with a scream of 
delight. 

“ Louise ! Louise ! Where have you been ? 
Where did you find her, Mr. Caruth?” Bess 
laughed and cried at the same time, and Aunt 
Z61ie was almost as bad. Louise was hugged and 
kissed and asked the same questions over and over 
again, because it was impossible to take in any- 
thing more than the glad fact that she was 
found. 

In the midst of it Carl rushed in, exclaiming, 
“We can’t find a trace of her, and Roberts 
says — ” 

“ The next time you want a detective you ’d 
better employ me,” remarked Mr. Caruth calmly. 


SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS. 


183 


CHAPTER XVIII. 

SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS. 

Louise’s adventure resulted in a cold that came 
near being pneumonia, and kept her housed for 
more than a week. As she paid so dearly for her 
thoughtlessness, no one had the heart to scold 
her; indeed, she received an unusual amount of 
petting. 

Mr. Hazeltine did suggest that the next time she 
wished to help one of her neighbors it might be as 
well to count the cost, and her meek u Yes, Father,” 
showed that she saw her mistake. 

“I wonder what will happen next,” said Carl 
one day, a week later, speaking from the depths of 
the wardrobe, where he was rummaging. 

44 Nothing, I hope,” remarked Bess, who sat in the 
window with Louise, supervising a new mansion for 
the Carletons. 

44 Not even something nice ? ” asked her brother. 

“Nothing really nice has happened since Aunt 
Z61ie gave us our silver keys,” said Louise. 44 There 
is the postman ; I am going to see if he has anything 
for us,” and putting aside her papers she ran down- 
stairs. 

She and the postman were great friends, and 


184 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


always had some merry words to exchange when 
they met. 

“ I treat you yell to-day,” said the cheery 
Dutchman; “I bring you two letter.” 

“ Thank you, but they are n’t for me. They 
are for my aunt. You must bring me one for 
myself.” 

“ Dot is too bad, I vill haf one for you next time.” 
He trotted off, and Louise carried the letters in and 
laid them on the library table, as Aunt Z61ie was 
not at home, and then went back to her drawing. 
Just before dark Mrs. Howard came in, bringing 
Cousin Helen with her to spend the night. The 
children were delighted at this, for it meant a merry 
evening if nobody came to call. The one provoking 
thing about Cousin Helen was that she had so many 
friends. 

Bess was charmed to discover that it was 
beginning to rain. 

“Now we can sit around the fire after dinner 
and tell stories,” she said, putting away her papers 
in an old checker-board. 

Their cousin, like their aunt, was generally 
willing to do what the children wished, so they 
made a sociable group in the library after dinner. 

“ Let ’s play something first,” suggested Miss 
Hazeltine, taking possession of the sleepy-hollow 
chair. 

“ ‘ I Have a Thought,’ ” Aunt Z61ie proposed ; 
“ little Helen likes that.” 


SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS .> 185 


“ I have a thought that rhymes with deep,” 
announced Carl. 

“ Is it what Cousin Helen will do if she sits in 
that chair?” asked Bess. 

“ Thank you, miss, I am not such a sleepy-head 
as you think,” said her cousin, with pretended 
indignation. 

It was not till some one had a thought rhyming 
with “better” that Louise was reminded of the 
letters the postman left. 

“There are two, Auntie,” she said, bringing 
them; “one is from Father.” 

“Yes, just a note to say he will be at home 
to-morrow at three. I don’t know this writing,” 
opening the other. 

“ Why, it is from Miss Lyons, Aunt Mary’s com- 
panion ! ” she exclaimed, looking at the signature. 

“You are frowning, Aunt Zdlie,” remarked Carl. 

“Don’t keep us in suspense, Zelie. Is there 
anything wrong ? ” asked her cousin. 

“Nothing really serious. Aunt Mary fell and 
broke her ankle, and will have to stay in bed for 
several weeks ; but the trouble is Miss Lyons’s 
brother is very ill and she has to go to him.” 

“So that is it? And she wants some one to take 
her place for a while, I suppose. I ’d go in a minute 
if Father and Mother were not away.” 

“ Of course you could not go, Helen. I am the 
one. Frank will be at home, and Sukey is here to 
take care of the children. I wish I had had this 


186 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


sooner ; I must telegraph to Miss Lyons that I will 
take the nine o’clock train to-morrow.” 

While she was speaking the children were silent 
from astonishment, but a wail arose presently. 

“'Why can’t Aunt Mary take care of herself?” 

44 What shall we do without you ? ” 

44 Don’t go, please don’t go ! ” 

44 Children, I must ; think of poor Miss Lyons.” 

44 If you put on such long faces when she is only 
going sixty miles away for a few weeks, what 
would you do if she should go away to live ? ” 
asked Cousin Helen. 

44 But she never will do that, for she has prom- 
ised,” said Carl confidently. 

Bess’s face suddenly brightened. 44 It will be 
helping, to let her go, won’t it?” 

44 1 suppose so,” sighed Louise, 44 but it is such a 
dreadful thing.” 

44 Oh, no, not dreadful at all ! ” and Aunt Z6Lie 
laughed at the doleful faces. 44 You can help, all 
of you, by being cheerful. And think what nice 
letters you can write me ! ” 

44 What will the club do ? ” Carl demanded. 

44 Conduct itself with propriety, to be sure ; and 
now I must pack my trunk.” 

44 Think of your wishing that something would 
happen ! ” said Bess reproachfully to her brother as 
they went upstairs. 

It was very forlorn next morning to say good-by, 
knowing that when they came from school Aunt 


SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS. 


187 


Zdlie would not be there ; but they remembered 
their promise and tried to be cheerful. How the 
rest of the day passed Bess told in a letter written 
that evening : 

Dear Aunt Zelie : You have been gone ten hours, Carl 
counted it up, and we miss you very much. Father has come 
home, so that is one comfort. He is reading the paper now. 
It was lonely at lunch with only us-, but Nannie came over 
with a note from Miss Brown asking us to come and take 
five o’clock tea, Carie and all. We had a good time. Miss 
Brown told stories and showed us some funny old things 
that belonged to her aunt. There vvas some jewelry that 
Louise and I would like to have to play Queen Mary in. 
Carl liked an old “Pilgrim’s Progress” that was printed 
more than a hundred years ago, but Ikey said he would 
rather have a new one. 

Carie was good as could be, and we had tea out of the little 
cups. We are grateful to Miss Brown. I think she was 
being a good neighbor, don’t you ? Father says it is bed- 
time, so good-night, dear Aunt Zelie. 

From your loving nieces, 

Bess and Louise. 

Several days later she received one from Carl : 

Dear Aunt Zelie : I have not written before because 
there was nothing of interest to tell you. We are getting 
on very well, though I think Joanna is too bossy, and 
mammy is nearly as bad. But we have been pretty good 
on the whole. Cousin Helen was not going to let Aleck 
stay Friday night, for fear he would cut up, but Father said, 
“ Nonsense ! ” so he came. We had a better time at the club 
than we expected. The boys were dreadfully sorry you 
were not there. Our screens are coming on finely, though 


188 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


Ikey pasted a dragon on upside-down. Will read the last 
chapter of “The Talisman 11 aloud while we worked. 
Then Father came up and was as jolly as could be. He 
advised us to read the “Life of Washington ” next, and we 
decided to begin it next week. Father is coming up again 
if he can. The O.B.F.D. will meet next week, so we can’t 
have the club ; I forgot. Some of us will write you about 
it. I hope Miss Lyons’s brother will soon be well and Aunt 
Mary too. Good-by, 

Your devoted nephew, 

William Carleton Hazeltine* 

A week or two later Aunt Zdlie received two 
long letters in the same envelope, from her nieces : 

Dear Auntie : We have so much to tell you that we are 
going to divide it between us. Aunt Marcia has just been 
here and has asked Father to let Helen go with her to Florida. 
Is n’t that lovely ? Uncle William said he wished he could 
take us all, but I don’t believe Aunt Marcia does. Louise 
and I wish we could go. Aleck wants Helen to bring him 
an alligator. Another thing we have to tell you is that 
Louise went to hear Patti sing, with Mr. Caruth. He was 
going to take Cousin Helen, but she was sick, so he came 
and asked Louise if she would go instead. Aunt Marcia 
said it was a great compliment to such a little girl, and that 
she must wear her white silk dress. I couldn’t help want- 
ing to go, because we always go together, and she was sorry 
too. Mr. Caruth brought her some flowers just as if she 
was a young lady, and I heard him tell Father she was a 
beautiful child. She had a lovely time, but she was sleepy 
next day. Now Louise is going to tell you about the meet- 
ing of the Order. 

Your devoted niece, 

Elizabeth Hazeltine. 


SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS. 


189 


Darling Aunt Zelie : Bess says I must tell you about 
the O.B.F.D. It met yesterday afternoon. We trimmed 
the star chamber with our flags, and Carl cut some big 
letters out of gilt paper, — O.B.F.D.’s I mean, — and put 
them on the wall. Everybody came, and we had a nice 
time. Carl made a speech of welcome and Jim played on 
the banjo, and then we had reports. We each wrote on a 
piece of paper how we were trying to help, and Will read 
them. We didn’t put our names, because Bess said it 
would seem as if we were proud of ourselves. Connie said 
some poetry and Aleck sang a funny song. Ikey and Will 
both had to pay fines. We are each going to pay ten cents 
a month and give the money to the Children’s Hospital. 
When we thought it was all over Jim got up and said he 
had a present for us, and what do you think it was ? Our 
motto painted in colors. Father says it is illuminated, and 
little John did it. Jim had it framed. We hung it on the 
wall, and we think perhaps we will ask John to belong to 
the Order. I liked Patti very much, but I wished Bess 
could go. 

With a great many kisses and lots of love, 

Louise Hazeltine. 


190 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


CHAPTER XIX. 

AUNT SUKEY’S STORY. 

“It is a whole month since Aunt Zelie went 
away, and nearly a week since we had a letter. I 
wonder if Miss Lyons’s brother is not well yet ; ” 
Bess sighed, for time was beginning to drag. 

“ Suppose Miss Lyons could n’t go back at all, 
would your aunt have to stay ? ” asked Dora, who 
had come in to spend the afternoon. 

“ Dear, no ! Aunt Mary would have to get 
another companion ; Aunt Z£lie belongs to us,” 
answered Carl, who sat on the floor showing Carie 
pictures. 

There was one supposed to represent the drown- 
ing of Pharaoh and his host which interested her 
deeply, and her brother made it even more thrill- 
ing by singing in an explosive manner one of 
Sukey’s songs : 

u Oh ! did n’t old Pharaoh get drowned — 

Oh ! did n’t old Pharaoh get drowned — 

Oh ! did n’t old Pharaoh get drowned in the Red sea? ” 

“ Is Carl here ? ” asked Louise, looking in ; 
“ here ’s Ikey.” 

“ What are you boys going to do this afternoon ? 
Don’t you want to play something ? ” asked Bess. 


AUNT SUKEY' S STORY. 


191 


“ No, thanks, we have something else on hand,” 
was the unsatisfactory reply. 

44 What? ” said Louise. 

44 Never mind; little girls mustn’t ask ques- 
tions,” responded Carl paternally, as he and Ikey 
left the room. A moment later he returned to call 
through the half -opened door, 44 1 know something 
I ’m not going to tell.” 

44 Never mind, I can' get it out of Ikey,” re- 
sponded Louise. 

44 Unfortunately he does n’t know it,” came from 
the third-story stairs. 

44 Perhaps Mandy will let us make some candy ; 
let ’s ask her, and not tell the boys,” Louise sug- 
gested. 

So while Joanna carried Carie off for a walk 
the others went down to the kitchen. 

It was a large, bright room, and it was Mandy’s 
pride to keep it shining. Aunt Sukey sat by one 
of the windows with the mending basket beside 
her, and the presiding genius stood at the spotless 
table rolling out croquettes. 

44 Mandy, we are so lonely without Auntie ! 
may n’t we make some candy to amuse us ? ” 
Louise put on her most coaxing expression. 

44 The kitchen ain’t the place for young ladies to 
get their dresses dirty in, and their fingers burned,” 
said Sukey severely. 

44 But we are n’t young ladies, mammy, and we 
will be careful,” urged Bess. 


192 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


“ I don’t think anyone could get dirty in this 
kitchen,” Dora added in honest admiration. 

This compliment pleased Mandy, and further- 
more it was her kitchen, so she said good-naturedly, 
“ You can make all the candy you want, so long as 
you get through before dinner-time.” 

With this permission the sugar and molasses 
were soon simmering in a saucepan, sending forth 
a pleasant fragrance. 

When it was well begun Bess sat down by 
Sukey, saying, “ Now tell us a story, mammy.” 

“ Oh, go ’long, I tole you all my stories long ago ! 
Y ou all ’s getting too big for stories. Looks like 
it was just yesterday that Miss Z61ie was askin’, 
‘Mammy, tell me a story,’ same as you.” 

“Was Auntie pretty when she was a little girl?” 
asked Bess. 

“ There never was a child as good-looking from 
first to last. Louise favors her, and it looks like 
I forget sometimes that it ain’t Miss Z61ie ; hut 
pretty is as pretty does, that ’s the truth, and she 
was pretty in manners as well as face.” 

“ Go on and tell us about her,” begged Louise, 
for though they had heard it all many times there 
was nothing they liked so well to listen to. Nor 
was there anything Sukey liked so well to tell, so 
as she sorted and turned and rolled the stocking's 
in a leisurely way, she began. 

The sunshine came in at the window and rested 
on Louise’s bright head and Dora’s dark one, as 


AUNT SU KEY'S STORY. 


198 


they sat together in the same chair. Bess's seat 
was an upturned earthen jar, and the same sun- 
light fell on her small folded hands and on the 
brown wrinkled ones at work with the stockings. 

“Well, you know how Miss Z^lie’s ma died 
when she was n’t as big as little Carie, and the 
last thing she said to me was, 4 Sukey, you mind 
my baby.’ Miss Elizabeth always set great store 
by me, and I ’lowed that freedom or nothin’ 
could take me from old Master’s family. It was 
powerful lonesome in this big house in those days. 
Your grandpa took your grandma’s death mighty 
hard, and he had to travel a good deal for his 
health, so Miss Zelie did n’t have any one to look 
after her but Mr. William and me. Mr. Frank, 
your pa, was away at college. Then Mr. William 
got married. Miss Marcia is a good woman and 
kind-hearted, but she ain’t any gift at managin’ 
children, and that ’s the truth. Miss Zdlie was a 
smart, lively child with a temper of her own, and 
if I do say it she would have had a hard time if it 
had not been for her old mammy. When she was 
ten years old Mr. Frank — he had been home from 
college a year — come to me and says, 4 Sukey, I ’m 
goin’ to be married.’ 

44 1 did n’t know whether to be glad or sorry, but 
I wished him good luck, an’ he went back up North 
for his wife.” 

“That was Mamma, you know,” Louise ex- 
plained to Dora. 


194 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


“ I remember bow Miss Z61ie come to me, and 
says she, 4 Mammy, do you think she will love 
me? ’ 

“ About that time Miss Marcia took it into her 
head to go to Europe. She said something about 
taking Miss Z61ie along, but I up an’ tole her that 
Avhere my child went I went too, an’ she ’lowed she 
did n’t want me. 

“It was the prettiest kind of a day when they 
came home, and we was out on the porch watchin’ 
for them. They drove up presently with your 
grandpa, and Miss Elinor she came up the walk 
ahead of Mr. Frank, smiling as sweet as could be, 
an’ she says, 4 So this is my little sister.’ I knew 
that minute they ’d be friends. 

44 Your ma was dreadful fond of children, and 
she made a great pet of Miss Zelie, and she was 
as happy as a bird.” 

44 Is n’t it interesting to think of Aunt Zelie be- 
ing a little girl? ’’said Bess; “but go on, Sukey, 
and tell about when Carl was born.” 

44 Well, it did seem like she was just too happy 
when the baby came. He was a fine child, and 
Miss Elinor said Miss Zelie might name him. 
Well, she and your grandpa would sit and argue 
about that name, and after I don’t know how long 
they settled on William Carle ton. That was the 
name of Miss Elinor’s only brother, and William 
was old Master’s name too. Mr. Carl used to 
come down right often, and he and Miss Z61ie was 


AUNT S UREY'S STORY. 


195 


great friends, though he was eight years older. 
Well, when — ” 

J ust at this moment the kitchen door opened ; 
the children had their backs to it, but Sukey sat 
facing it, and her story came to a sudden stop. 
Bess, turning to look, was clasped from behind. 
Gould it possibly be? Yes, it certainly was Aunt 
Zelie herself. 

“You darling! When did you come?” asked 
Louise, holding her fast. 

“ This very minute. I wrote to Frank that I 
would be home to-morrow, and then found that I 
could get off to-day.” 

“And is Miss Lyons’s brother well ? ” inquired 
Bess. 

“ Almost, and she sent her thanks to you for let- 
ting me take her place.” 

“ She is welcome, now you are at home again,” 
laughed Louise, with another hug. 

The candy was almost forgotten in the delight 
at Aunt Zelie’s return, and would have been 
spoiled if Mandy had not taken it in hand. 

When the traveller went to change her dress 
Louise had a little triumph over Carl which pleased 
her exceedingly. 

Going up to the star chamber, she called, “ Well, 
I have found out your secret, Mr. Carl. It is that 
Auntie is coming home to-morrow.” 

“ Who told you ? ” he demanded. 

“ Never mind, I told you I ’d find out,” and she 


196 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


ran away without giving him a chance to ask any 
more questions. 

An hour later, when the boys came downstairs, 
there was Aunt Zelie looking as if she had never, 
never been away, and the girls quite consumed 
with delight at their surprise. 

u Louise, that was mean ! ” Carl cried. “ How 
long have you been here, I ’d like to know ? ” with 
one of his bearlike hugs. 

“ I did not mean to be mean, really, and you and 
Ikey can have all the candy you want,” said Louise 
generously. 

Mrs. Howard had certainly no reason to doubt 
her popularity. The news of her arrival spread, 
and the next day in the afternoon she held an im- 
promptu reception. 

One after another the boys and girls dropped in, 
till the whole eleven were there. The first to 
arrive was Jim, with a great bunch of roses, at 
which extravagance Aunt Zelie shook her head, 
though she could not help appreciating their 
beauty and Jim’s thoughtfulness. 

Ikey wished that he could do magnificent things 
like that, — he sometimes dreamed of it, — but alas ! 
he was in a chronically penniless state. He had 
nothing for her but a message from his mother, but 
when he screwed up sufficient courage to deliver it 
it seemed to please her as much as the roses. The 
message was : “ Thank Mrs. Howard for being so 
good to my boy. Some day I hope to see her and 


AUNT SUKEY'S STORY. 


19T 


tell her how I love her for it.” Ikey’s heart fairly 
glowed when Aunt Zelie said that it was only a 
pleasure to be good to such a nice boy. 

Last of all came Cousin Helen and Aleck, who 
stayed and spent a merry evening. 

“ It is so nice to have Aunt Zelie back, I am 
almost glad she went,” Bess was heard to say. 

And that lady herself thought that such a wel- 
come quite made up for the four rather lonely 
weeks in the country with her invalid aunt. 


198 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


CHAPTER XX. 

THE ORDER OF THE BIO FRONT DOOR. 

On the afternoon of the meeting at Miss Brown’s, 
when the silver keys were distributed, Jim had 
walked home with Aunt Zelie and said as they 
reached the gate, “ Thank you very much for the 
pin, Mrs. Howard ; I mean to remember the motto 
and be a helper if I can.” 

“ I am sure you do, and you are more than wel- 
come,” she replied, thinking, as she looked into the 
bright, handsome face, “ He wants to please me 
now, but perhaps it will grow into a higher motive.” 

Jim was quite in earnest when he said this. 
Three months in the Good Neighbors Club had 
somewhat changed his point of view. He might 
still be inconsiderate and thoughtless, but he no 
longer defended himself by saying that every 
fellow must look out for himself. 

The friendship of little John Armstrong was 
doing much for him. A strong liking had sprung 
up between the two, rather to the surprise of every- 
body. From the first John showed a decided pref- 
erence for Jim, who was so big and strong and 
capable, everything he himself was not ; and in the 
same way the helpless weakness of the invalid 


THE ORDER OF THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 199 


made its appeal to the boy who in all his life had 
never been ill. 

Certainly Miss Brown was right when she said 
that the silver keys could open a door of pleasure 
to the lame hoy. 

The children could not guess the happiness their 
companionship gave him. He listened with eager 
interest to all they told him of their life at home 
and at school, and when they were gone he lived 
it over again in imagination. He cherished a 
secret desire to belong to the Order, hut would 
not have mentioned it for the world, for how could 
he help ? He wrote the motto in his note-book, and 
then for weeks spent all his spare time copying it 
on parchment in letters taken from an old English 
missal, one of his father’s treasures, drawing and 
coloring them with greatest care. When it was 
done it was really beautiful, and Jim, who was in 
the secret, had it nicely framed and presented it, as 
we know, at the next meeting of the Order. 

But John wanted to be a real hejper. He 
thought about it a great deal, but everything was 
done for him ; there seemed to be no chance. 

One day he noticed a lot of magazines which his 
father had been looking over, and left lying on the 
floor when he was suddenly called away. They 
belonged on the lower shelves of the bookcase, 
and it occurred to him that he might replace 
them. He rolled his chair over to that side of the 
room, and with a good deal of effort put them 


200 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


back in order on the shelves. Then when Dr. 
'Armstrong thanked his wife that evening for put- 
ting them away, and she answered that she had 
not even seen them, John had the great delight 
of surprising them. It sent him to bed with a 
happy heart. However, next day he began to 
doubt whether so small a thing would count, and 
when Jim dropped in in the afternoon he asked 
his opinion. “ Of course, you see, I can’t do much 
of anything, but I ’d like to help a little,” he said. 

“Count?” said Jim, the despiser of trifles; “of 
course it does ; everything counts.” 

He told the boys and Aunt Z£lie about it at the 
next meeting of the G.N. Club. “ I can’t help 
feeling sorry for the little fellow ; I never thought 
before how hard it would be not to be able to do 
things like other people, but just sit still and be 
waited on ; so I told him I thought it would count. 
Don’t you think so? ” Jim looked at Aunt Z61ie 
appealingly, half afraid the boys would laugh at 
his soft-heartedness. 

“I certainly do,” she answered, and Will said, 
“ There are a great many things he could do, I am 
sure. Did he ever show you his scrap-books? 
They are beautifully done. He could make some 
smaller ones for the hospital.” 

“ Why could n’t we make him a member of the 
Order? He would be so pleased,” said Jim. 

“ He could n’t come, could he ? ” asked Ikey, 
not meaning to object. 


THE ORDER OF THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 201 

“ Wliy could n’t he ? ” said Carl ; “ some of us 
could carry him over as easily as not.” 

“ I say let ’s talk it over with the girls and have 
him here next Friday,” said Will. 

The girls entered into it willingly. “ Of course 
he ought to belong, for he made us that beautiful 
motto,” said Elsie. 

“ And we must get up something interesting for 
him,” said Louise, who with Jim was on the enter- 
tainment committee. 

Aunt Zelie consulted Mrs. Armstrong and found 
she was not willing to let John go out at night, 
so the time of the meeting was changed to Friday 
afternoon. Nothing was said to John himself till 
that morning, when Carl stopped in on his way to 
school to invite him. 

“ Could I go ? Do you think I could go, Mother ? ” 
he asked eagerly, and from then until lunch time 
he lived in delightful anticipation. 

After that the minutes dragged till three, when 
the boys came for him, and the journey from the 
parsonage to the star chamber was easily accom- 
plished. This apartment presented a festive ap- 
pearance, decorated with flags and bunting which 
had done service in one of Aunt Marcia’s numerous 
charitable entertainments. 

“You see, John,” Louise explained as soon as 
his chair had been placed in a corner from which he 
could see everything, “ Aunt Zelie said we ought 
to have colors for our Order, and I thought, and so 


202 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


did Bess and Dora, that red, white, and bine would 
be nicest, because they are the colors of our country. 
Carl says it is silly, for we are not doing anything 
for our country, but I ’m sure we would if we could.” 

As Louise chattered away John looked around 
him. His motto hung in the place of honor over 
the mantel. In front of this was a low platform 
which dated back to Uncle William’s time, and 
had often done duty for tableaux and such things; 
on it were two chairs and a table for the President 
and Secretary. Chairs for the audience were 
arranged in rows facing this. It was a most excit- 
- ing moment to John when Will took the chair and 
called the meeting to order in a business-like way. 
Bess read the minutes of the last meeting, and I key 
gave the Treasurers report. Then came reports 
from the two clubs, given respectively by Elsie 
and Aleck. The M.Ks. were still at work on the 
afghan for old Aunt Sallie, which was nearly done, 
and Miss Brown was reading aloud to them U A 
New England Girlhood.” 

The G.Ns. had finished one of their screens and 
were at work on another while they listened to 
“The Life of Washington.” 

“Next in order is the election of new members,” 
said Will, and John started and flushed and then 
felt ashamed that he could be so silly as to think 
he was meant. 

Jim rose and said, “Mr. President, I nominate 
John Armstrong.” 


the order of the big front door. 203 

This was seconded by Ikey, and the President 
continued: “John Armstrong is nominated; all in 
favor will please say 4 aye.’ ” 

The 44 ayes ” were overwhelming, and accom- 
panied by such a clapping of hands that the Presi- 
dent forgot to ask for the 44 noes.” 

When it was quiet again John found voice to say 
timidly, 44 1 ’m afraid I won’t amount to much, but 
I am very much obliged and I ’ll try.” 

When Louise pinned a little silver key with a 
tiny bow of red, white, and bine ribbon on his 
coat no Knight of the Garter was ever prouder of 
his decoration. 

The President announced that he had been told 
of a little girl who had to lie on her back for a 
year on account of some spinal trouble, and who 
had almost nothing to amuse her, so if anyone had 
scrap-books or toys and would send them to her it 
would be helping. 

John’s eyes grew bright; here was something for 
him to do. 

After this the meeting adjourned, the table and 
chairs were removed from the platform, a white 
curtain drawn, the room darkened, and the audi- 
ence, such as did not take part, were treated to 
shadow pictures. 

John, who had never seen any before, laughed 
till he cried at 44 Lord Ullin’s Daughter ” and 44 The 
Ballad of the Oysterman.” This last was per- 
formed with particularly fine effect by Carl and 


204 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


Louise, and everybody knows how funny it is when 
well done. 

John was carried home again very tired, but 
with a radiant face, eager to show his silver key. 
As the spring days grew warm and pleasant his 
wheeled chair was often seen on the sidewalk, or 
in the Hazeltines’ garden, where he liked to watch 
the games of tennis and croquet, drawing clever 
little caricatures of the players meanwhile. Some- 
body was always ready to wheel him about, and in 
the pleasure of young companionship he grew 
stronger, and his face lost much of its pathetic 
look. 

About this time old Mr. Ford, whose eyes were 
growing dim, discovered that when the print of his 
paper was particularly fine a pair of strong young 
eyes were ready to lend their s’ervice. Sweet- 
tempered Ikey had always been willing enough to 
help when it occurred to him, hut his thoughts 
were likely to be anywhere else than at home, so 
that the broadest hints were lost on him. Now, 
with the little key to remind him, he was oftener 
on the lookout for opportunities, and as the months 
passed his grandfather was heard to say : “ Isaac is 
a fine boy, only a little mischievous,” and Mrs. 
Ford added: “Yes, he is really growing like his 
father.” 

The letters that found their way across the sea 
were not homesick in these days, and Ikey’s mother 
ceased to worry about him. 


THE ORDER OF THE BIG FRONT DOOR . 205 


In ways like these the silver keys did their work. 
Their owners did not forthwith turn into models 
of helpfulness and unselfishness ; such things need 
time to grow, and this is exactly what they began 
to do. Only little sprouts, hardly to be noticed at 
first, they gave promise of being sturdy plants 
some day. 


206 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


CHAPTER XXL 

WORK AND PLAY. 

Miss Brown sat in her accustomed place by 
the window, where the sun was pouring in in a 
springlike way, though it was only February. Her 
sitting-room wore a festive air ; the curtains looked 
crisp and white as if they were just hung, the old 
mahogany shone with more than its ordinary 
lustre, and on a table at her side stood a howl 
filled with white carnations. She looked about her 
with happy eyes, for she had been away a month 
and had discovered that there was no place like 
home, after all. 

From the pleasant room she turned to the 
window, and her glance went across the sunny 
street and rested on the Big Front Door. 

It opened presently, as she rather expected, and 
Bess and Louise came out with their work-bags, and 
stood talking to Aunt Zelie, who followed them. 

“ Dear, dear, how those children are growing ! 
It seems only yesterday that they broke my window 
and came to confess.” 

As she watched them Miss Brown thought, as 
she had so often before, what a happy home that 
was, and how much of its brightness found its way 
over to her ! 


WORK AND PLAY. 


207 


“ Come for us early this afternoon, Carl, for we 
want to go out to Uncle William's,” said Bess to 
her brother, who had joined them and was carefully 
marking’ his aunt’s height on the wall. 

“You are not expecting me to grow any more, I 
suppose,” said that lady, laughing. 

“ I simply wish to prove to you that I am two 
inches taller, so you can’t lord it over me any 
longer, madam.” 

“I was under the impression that the lording 
came from quite a different quarter.” 

“ That is a base slander ; you know I am your 
humble slave, so take it back,” and Carl gave her 
a hug that compelled her to cry for mercy. 

“ If you must embrace me, let it not be in pub- 
lic ; what will the neighbors think ? ” she said, as 
he released her. 

“ They may think that I am very fond of you, 
and where is the harm ? ” following her into ,the 
hall and closing the door. 

Over at Miss Brown’s a few minutes later five 
work-bags were being opened, their owners all 
talking at once as they took out their thimbles 
and needles. 

Though nearly two years and a half had passed 
since the day when the M.Ks. took their first lesson 
in knitting, the club still flourished, and after a 
month’s holiday they were eager to begin the 
meetings again. 

“We did hardly any work while you were gone, 


208 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


we were so afraid of making some mistake,” said 
Louise, bringing her chair to Miss Brown’s side. 

44 Uncle William’s dreams ought to be sweet 
when he takes his nap under this ; I believe Dora’s 
stripe is the prettiest of all,” and Bess held up her 
friend’s work admiringly. 

44 Dora’s stripes are always prettiest,” said Elsie ; 
“ I wish I could do half so well.” 

“ Are n’t they absurd, Miss Brown, when it is 
only because daisies look particularly well on tan 
color ? ” said Dora, laughing. 

44 1 think the skilful fingers have something to 
do with it, but I am proud of all the work.” 

44 We have improved a little since we made the 
afghan for Aunt Sallie, have n’t we ? ” remarked 
Constance. 

44 You have, indeed, but you were such dear little 
girls then, and now you are growing distressingly 
tall ; I do not half like it.” Miss Brown shook her 
head disapprovingly as she looked around the 
circle. 

44 1 think it will be very nice to be grown up,” 
said Elsie, who was already beginning to consider 
herself a young lady at fourteen. 

44 1 ’d much rather stay a little girl. I don’t like 
growing up. Next year Carl is going away to 
school, and all our good times will be over,” and 
Bess sighed as though the weight of years already 
rested on her shoulders. 

44 Well, we are only little girls yet, so what is the 


WORK AND PLAY. 


209 


use of worrying?” said Louise, who, though she 
was tallest of all, was more of a child than any of 
the others. 

Dora was perhaps more changed than any of her 
friends. She was growing very sweet and womanly, 
and her manners were as simple and frank as ever. 
Her mother’s feeble health brought her more care 
than fell to the share of most girls of her age, and 
this made her seem older than she really was. 

This afternoon she seemed somewhat preoccu- 
pied and silent. When appealed to she answered 
as brightly as usual, but a thoughtful, anxious look 
came to her face when she turned to her work. 

Miss Brown noticed it and wondered what was 
troubling her. 

“ Girls,” exclaimed Bess, “ suppose we give 
Uncle William a party when we finish the slumber 
robe — just our set, you know.” 

This suggestion met with enthusiastic approval, 
and was discussed with great glee till Louise 
announced the arrival of the boys. 

On pleasant Saturdays they often dropped in 
about five o’clock, and when work was put up 
went with the girls for a walk, a custom which 
Aunt Z61ie encouraged, for she liked to have her 
boys and girls together. 

Carl came across the street, followed by Will and 
Aleck ; Ikey, who was waiting at his gate, joined 
them; and a moment later Jim came hurrying 
round the corner. 


210 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR . 


“ Let ’s show them the slumber robe,” proposed 
Louise. So they were called in while Bess and 
Elsie spread their work over a chair. 

The boys went through the ordeal fairly well, 
being amiably desirous of pleasing the proud 
needlewomen. 

Will brought down their scorn upon his head by 
saying it was pretty, as if it were not “ lovely,” 
and Aleck insulted Dora by examining her daisies 
with a critical air and then asking what sort of 
flowers they were. 

For this stupidity Carl promised to punish him. 

“Aren’t you coming with us, Dora?” asked 
Bess when they reached the street, seeing that she 
turned toward home. 

“ I am sorry, but I can’t this afternoon,” she said. 

They united in coaxing her, but she would not 
listen, and with a cheerful good-by walked briskly 
away. 

“ May n’t I carry your parcel for you ? ” asked a 
voice at her side. 

“Why, Carl, I thought you had gone with the 
others! It isn’t dark. I do not need anyone.” 

“ Please, ma’m, I ’d like to walk with you if you 
don’t mind.” 

Dora could n’t help smiling, though she said 
« severely, “I don’t believe you. It is because you 
think I am lonely by myself. I am much obliged 
to you, but I wish you would run after the others.” 

Carl coolly took possession of the work-bag. 


WORK AND PLAY. 


211 


“Yon will have to make the best of it, for I am 
going home with you.” 

They walked on in silence for a minute ; then he 
asked meekly, u Are you mad?” 

“You know I am not.” 

“ Then you might tell what is the matter. You 
don’t know how much good, honest confession 
does one.” 

“Yes, I do, but I have nothing to confess. I am 
worried about something, but you cannot help me, 
and it is not wortli speaking of, at any rate.” 

“ Come home, then, and tell Aunt Zdlie ; she is 
pretty good at helping.” 

“ I ought to know that; still I don’t know what 
even she could do. It is not much, after all ; I am 
just rather low in my mind, as Mrs. West says.” 
Dora smiled with an attempt at cheerfulness not 
altogether successful. 

“ Don’t fib ; brace up and make a clean breast 
of it, and if you need advice I am full of it.” 

“ Dear me, you are such a goose ! I shall not 
have any peace till I tell you. Well, then, the 
beginning of it is that Mrs. West is going to 
Florida to live.” 

“ I am sorry, but it seems to me matters might 
be worse,” Carl answered gravely. 

“ Of course you don’t understand it. It means 
that we must find another boarding place, where I 
am sure I do not know. We can’t afford any that 
are near here, and Mamma does so hate to board, 


212 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


she is not a bit happy. I would give anything if 
we could have a little house all to ourselves.” 

“There is one thing certain, you shall not go 
away from this neighborhood. Don’t worry about 
it, it will come out all right.” 

Dora felt a little comforted by Carl’s sympathy, 
though she knew he could not help her. 

“ Are you sure you could not find a small house 
that would do ? ” he asked. 

“Yes, I know that is quite out of the question. 
Even a small house would cost too much, and then 
it would be too lonely for Mamma when I am at 
school. You see it was foolish in me to tell you, 
for it only bothers you for nothing.” 

“ Just wait a minute, I have an idea,” said Carl, 
putting his hands in his pockets and assuming an 
air of deep meditation. 

“It is ever so much better than Mrs. West’s ! ” 
he exclaimed presently. “I am glad the old lady 
is going. I shall not tell you what it is till I 
investigate, but I am sure it will do.” 

He was so interested in his scheme, whatever it 
might be, that he would not wait a moment, hut 
rushed away as soon as the door was opened. 

“ Ridiculous boy ! What can he be thinking 
of ? ” Dora said to herself as she went upstairs, her 
curiosity much stronger than her faith. 

“ Aunt Zelie, can’t you come with me over to 
the bakery?” asked Carl, bursting in upon her five 
minutes later. 


WORK AND PLAY. 


213 


“ If it is a matter of life and death I presume I 
can,” she replied. 44 What is going on there ?.” 

44 Nothing ; I ’ll tell you about it, only do get 
your things, or it will be dark. 

As she put on her hat and coat he told her 
about Dora’s trouble, which she could appreciate 
far better than he. 

44 She said she knew they could not find a house 
that would do,” he went on, 44 and that reminded 
me that there is a 4 For Rent ’ sign in the windows 
over the bakery. You know if they lived there 
Mrs. Smith would be good to them, and perhaps 
they could get their meals from her. So I want 
you to look at the rooms and see what you think. 
Dora would listen to you.” 

Very much amused, Aunt Z&Lie went with him, 
agreeing that it might be practicable. 

Mrs. Smith, the wife of the confectioner, was de- 
lighted to show her rooms, and led the way through 
the store into the entrance hall at the side, and on 
upstairs. There were two large, bright rooms open- 
ing into the hall, with a bath-room adjoining. The 
rent was very reasonable, and she said she could fur- 
nish meals. Aunt Z61ie was forced to admit that her 
nephew’s plan had a good deal to recommend it. 

Nothing would do but they must go and tell 
Dora about it before they went home. 

She was very much surprised to see them, and 
listened with eyes that grew bright as the plan was 
unfolded. 


214 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


“ Did n’t I tell you it would be better than stay- 
ing here ? ” Carl asked triumphantly. 

“ It sounds as if it would be perfect ; how did 
you come to think of it ? ” Dora said gratefully. 

She could hardly wait till Monday afternoon to 
go and see for herself. Mrs. Howard went with 
her then, and so did Bess and Louise, but they only 
sat on the window-sill and built castles while the 
others made calculations and discussed carpets and 
curtains. 

“ They are such pleasant rooms, so much more 
so than the one we have now,” Dora said. “ I 
think, and the doctor said so too, that sunshine 
is the best thing for Mamma. I believe I have 
thought of everything, and it won’t cost much 
more than boarding at Mrs. Wes-t’s. If it were 
only on the other side of the street I could see 
the Big Front Door.” 

Aunt Zelie offered to take charge of the clean- 
ing and getting ready, so that her lessons need not 
be interrupted, and nothing remained but to gain 
her mother’s consent to the plan. 

Mrs. Warner made no objection to it when she 
heard that Mr. Hazeltine and Mrs. Howard thought 
it wise, but she did not show the interest Dora 
hoped for. 

Once it was decided upon, things seemed almost 
to arrange themselves. All her young friends took 
an interest in Dora’s moving, and Elsie, who doubted 
the propriety of living over a store, — for as yet 


WORK AND PLAY. 


215 


“ flats ” had not been heard of in this part of the 
country, — nevertheless confided to Bess that she 
was going to make her a beautiful pincushion. 
This suggested an idea to Bess. 

“ Don’t you think it would be nice for each of 
us to give Dora something for her housekeeping? ” 
she asked at the dinner table that evening. 

Uncle William and Aunt Marcia were there, and 
the Warners had just been spoken of. “ A good 
suggestion,” said the first-named; “suppose we 
do.” 

“ I don’t approve of this move at all,” Mrs. 
Hazeltine announced; “Mrs. Warner must have 
lost her mind to consent.” 

“ It is a great deal nicer than you imagine, Aunt 
Marcia,” urged Bess. 

“ Dora does n’t care about being fashionable, 
and you can have more fun if you don’t,” ob- 
served Louise. 

“You seem to care for nothing but fun,” said 
her aunt, with dignity. 

“ At any rate we all admire Dora’s energy and 
good sense, and would like to do something to 
help her,” said Mr. Frank Hazeltine. 

So they put their heads together and made their 
plans. 

It was arranged that Mrs. Warner should come 
to her new quarters on Saturday morning, and 
Dora lingered long on Friday afternoon putting a 
few last touches here and there, arranging her little 


216 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR . 


sideboard with some pretty glass and china, relics 
of her mother’s early housekeeping, till everything 
was in dainty order. 

“I do hope Mamma will think it pleasant,” she 
said to Louise, who was helping. 

“She will, I’m sure,” Louise answered, looking 
around the room, which was indeed very attractive 
with the afternoon sunshine streaming in through 
the windows draped in their pretty muslin curtains. 

“ Everything is so sweet and cosey I almost envy 
you,” she added, dusting the top of the clock with 
a tiny feather duster. 

“Louise Hazeltine, how could you envy any- 
body ? ” Dora exclaimed. “ There are two things 
I ought to have, and mean to sometime,” she 
went on, “ and they are some plants and a 
canary.” 

Louise looked out of the window to hide a smile. 

One more peep had to be taken at the other 
room, where two snowy beds looked restful and 
inviting; then she locked the doors, leaving the 
key with Mrs. Smith that the fires might be made 
in the morning. 

“ I hope you will like it, Mamma,” were her last 
words that night and her first thought next morn- 
ing. 

Mr. Hazeltine sent his carriage for Mrs. Warner, 
and short as the drive was it seemed tiresomely 
long to Dora. 

“ I am glad it is pleasant so that the sunshine 


WORK AND PLAY. 


217 


will be in your windows; it is always there by 
eleven o’clock,” she said. 

Mrs. Smith was at the door to welcome them, 
with her small son Tommy to carry up any bundles. 

“I declare,” she remarked to her husband, “it 
does n’t look right for a woman that has a daughter 
like Miss Dora to be so terrible down-hearted.” 

In her eagerness to see how her mother was 
pleased, Dora hardly noticed anything herself when 
she opened the door. 

A more hopelessly gloomy person than Mrs. 
Warner could not have failed to be impressed with 
the sweet, cheerful comfort which pervaded the 
room. The sunshine from the south windows lay 
in two great patches on the quiet carpet, and 
glistened in a corner of something that did not 
look quite familiar ; the fire burned briskly, doing 
its best to add to the cheeriness. 

“ My dear daughter, how could you do all this ? ” 
she asked, her face brightening. 

“ Do you like it ? I am so glad !” Then Dora 
began to look about in some bewilderment ; 
something had certainly happened to the room 
since yesterday. In the corner by the fireplace 
was the dearest mahogany desk, and on it a card 
which read, “ For a brave little girl, from Uncle 
William.” Glancing up, her eyes rested on the 
sweet face of a Madonna, which she guessed at 
once came from Aunt Zelie. 

“ How good they are to me ! ” she exclaimed, feel- 


218 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


ing almost like crying ; but just then the canary in 
the window burst into a song, thus calling attention 
to himself and to the pot of ivy from Miss, Brown. 

It was a morning of surprises. While her 
mother sat in her easy-chair, with a more cheerful 
face than she had worn for years, Dora went about 
finding every now and then something new. There 
were hyacinths from Helen and Carie, Elsie’s pin- 
cushion on the bureau, a table cover from Constance, 
and on the sideboard a cunning teapot, with this 
touching verse tied on the handle : 

u Whene’er a cup of tea you drink, 

Of me I hope you ’ll kindly think. 

To make the memory more complete, 

Be sure to take it very sweet.” 


This effusion did not need Carl’s initials to tell 
her where it came from. The last thing to be dis- 
covered was a beautiful chair to match the desk, 
from Carl’s father. 

Late in the afternoon a happy face looked in on 
Aunt Zdlie, and a merry voice exclaimed, “It is 
going to be a success ; and to-day has been better 
than Christmas ! ” 


UNCLE WILLIAM IS SURPRISED. 219 


CHAPTER XXII. 

UNCLE WILLIAM IS SURPRISED. 

Dora’s housekeeping seemed to thrive from the 
first. Her mother grew more cheerful and a little 
stronger, and she herself was rosy and happy. It 
was so pleasant to come home every day after 
school and find Fanny, their small maid, who came 
each morning and stayed till after lunch, setting 
their own little table. And then, what a pleasure 
to study at her beautiful desk ! 

“ It is lovely, if it is over a confectionery, is n’t 
it, Mamma ? ” she would say. 

It was her great pleasure to keep this small 
domain in the daintiest order, and Saturday morn- 
ing was sure to find her busy with her duster. On 
this particular morning, as she was shaking it out 
of the window, she saw Bess and Louise com- 
ing in. 

“ If you are n’t busy, Dora, we want to talk to 
you about something,” began the last-named person 
before she was fairly in the room. 

“ I am just through, and delighted to see you,” 
she said hospitably. 

“ It is about the afghan,” Bess explained. “ We 
can finish it easily this afternoon, and the twentieth 


220 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


is Uncle William’s birthday ; don’t you think it 
would be best to give it to him then ? ” 

“We asked the boys about the party and they 
are in favor of it, and Aunt Z61ie says we can have 
it. Now what kind of a party shall it be ? We want 
suggestions,” said Louise, folding her hands in her 
lap, and leaning back as if she had only to ask. 

“ Why not have a surprise party ? — ask him to 
dinner as if it were nothing special, you know.” 

“ The very thing ! ” they both exclaimed. 

“ Why did n’t we think of surprising the dear old 
duck, who is always surprising us ? ” Louise added. 

Bess shook her head at her sister. “ That is not 
a becoming way in which to speak of your uncle. 
But that is a good idea, Dora ; you are a very bright 
girl.” 

“ Thank you, I am glad I am satisfactory. Do 
you need any more suggestions ? ” 

“ It must be a real party ; we must trim the 
house and have Carl present the slumber robe ; and 
do you think we could have a cake with candles ? 
Forty-eight would be a good many.” 

“Four dozen,” said Dora, as Louise paused for 
breath. “ Why don’t you leave the decorations to 
the boys? We have done our share in making the 
afghan.” 

“Another brilliant idea. We will,” said Bess. 

They discussed it again over their work that 
afternoon, and Constance and Elsie gave their 
entire approval to the plan. 


UNCLE WILLIAM IS SURPRISED. 221 


A party at the Hazeltines’ was always welcome, 
and the combination of circumstances made this 
particularly pleasant to anticipate. 

Their fingers flew as they talked, and by five 
o’clock the last stitch was taken, and the work of 
nearly six months finished. 

After surveying it fondly on all sides and trying 
its effect on Miss Brown’s sofa, it was reluctantly 
wrapped in a sheet and put away till the all-im- 
portant day. 

It was hard to do justice to lessons the next 
week, with such interesting preparations to he made. 
Aunt Z6lie had shaken her head over parties during 
the school term, hut gave in to the plea that this 
was a very special occasion. They could n’t help 
the fact that Uncle William’s birthday came in 
March. 

Everything was ready in good time, Mr. Hazel- 
tine was invited to dinner, and a hint was given to 
his wife. 

At seven o’clock on Thursday evening most of 
the party had assembled, and the Hazeltine house 
was pervaded by an air of expectancy. 

In the place of honor in the long drawing-room 
sat Miss Brown, who could not resist the united 
urging of Aunt Zelie and the girls. 

“We arranged this corner just for you,” said 
Bess, coming to greet her as soon as she was 
seated. “We knew you would look like a picture 
in it.” 


222 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


Miss Brown laughed and said that would be a 
new sensation, as she had never before been a 
picture. 

“ Oh, yes, you have been, but perhaps you did n’t 
know it ! ” said Louise. “ This time you are to know 
it, and every one is to admire you, for you are part 
of our decorations ; I am glad you wore that lovely 
shawl.” 

She made a picture, truly, with her bright eyes 
and snowy hair against the crimson velvet of the 
chair, a delicate white lace shawl over her dark 
dress, and a copper lamp with a deep rose-colored 
shade throwing a soft radiance about her. 

“ And here is somebody to keep you company,” 
said Bess, bringing Aunt Z61ie to sit beside her. 

Mrs. Howard’s eyes followed lovingly her two 
pretty nieces as they danced away to join the group 
around the afghan. 

“ I wonder,” said Miss Brown, watching them, 
“ what difference it would have made in me if I 
had had such a home when I was a child.” 

“ It is a beautiful and helpful thing to have a 
happy childhood to look back upon,” answered 
their aunt. “When I meet discontented, cynical 
people I feel sure that no sweet true child-life lies 
behind them. I want my boys and girls to be able 
to say that their happiest times have been at home. 
Here comes our housekeeper.” 

There was certainly a housewifely air about 
Dora’s plump little figure in her simple white dress 


UNCLE WILLIAM IS SURPRISED. 223 


as she came to speak to Miss Brown and get Aunt 
Z61ie to pin on her flowers. 

“Everybody is here but Ikey and Jim,” 
announced Louise, whose blue ribbons were flut- 
tering from one end of the house to the other. 

“ Here they are ! ” called Carl from the window, 
“and someone else; it must be Uncle William !” 

Great excitement prevailed till the door opened 
and it proved to be Mr. Caruth. 

“ I had forgotten you were invited, but I am 
very glad to see you,” Louise said, advancing to . 
meet him. 

“ Then I should not have been missed if I had 
not come?” he said, shaking hands with Mrs. 
Howard. 

“ Oh, I had only forgotten for a minute, because 
I have so much on my mind ! ” she explained, laugh- 
ing. “Why, Jim, what lovely flowers! Ikey, 
where is your buttonhole bouquet that I took so 
much trouble to make?” 

Ikey stared blankly at his undecorated coat. 
“ Oh ! I forgot it. I put it in the refrigerator ; I ’ll 
go and get it.” 

“In the refrigerator?” repeated the girls with 
one voice. “Just like a boy!” 

“ Well, why not? That is where you put things 
to keep ; ” and Ikey departed to find his posies, 
while Jim divided his roses between Louise and 
Aunt Zelie. 

In three minutes Ikey came flying back quite 


224 


THE BIG FRONT BOOR . 


breathless, announcing that Uncle William was at 
the gate. 

The festive air which reigned inside found its 
way out through various cracks and crevices, caus- 
ing Mr. Hazeltine to remark that the house looked 
unusually brilliant. 

The truth did not dawn upon him till he stood 
in the parlor door before a semicircle of bright 
faces, all very full of the fun of the occasion. 

Across the top of the large mirror he saw “ Wel- 
come,” in letters of evergreen, and a chorus of 
“ Many happy returns ! ” greeted him. 

“ Bless me ! what does this mean? Is it possible 
that it is my birthday ? ” he exclaimed. 

“Yes, and it’s a s' prise party; aren’t you 
s' prised?" demanded Carie, unable to keep quiet 
any longer. 

“ Surprised ? I should say so ! I shall have to 
have forty-eight kisses from somebody.” 

Carie immediately volunteered her share, and 
altogether it is probable that he really received 
more than he was entitled to. 

He made his way to Miss Brown’s corner after a 
while, and when the excitement subsided a little 
Carl stepped forward and said in an extremely 
lawyer-like manner : “ I have the honor to be chosen 
spokesman this evening, to welcome you and wish 
you many happy returns of the day in the name of 
the members of the Order of the Big Front Door, 
who in testimony of their affection for you tender 


UNCLE WILLIAM IS SURPRISED. 225 


yon this reception. I am also requested to present 
to you, in behalf of the Merry Knitters, this 
slumber robe, the work of their own fair fingers, 
which they offer as a slight token of their appreci- 
ation of all your kindness to them. May your 
dreams be sweet ! ” 

Aleck and Ikey advanced and threw the slumber 
robe over a chair before the astonished Uncle 
William. 

For a moment it quite took his breath away. He 
was touched and gratified that the girls should 
have done so much work for him, and found it 
necessary to clear his throat vigorously before he 
replied to Carl’s graceful effort. 

“I am sure I can truthfully say that only once 
before in my life have I been so completely sur- 
prised. I thank you all most heartily for remem- 
bering an old fellow like me, and I particularly 
thank the M.Ks. for their beautiful gift. I shall 
prize it as one of my greatest treasures. I also 
thank Miss Brown for coming to my party ; I con- 
sider it a great honor. As I had not the same 
opportunity as my nephew for preparing a speech 
I shall not say any more except to thank you all 
again.” 

He sat down amid great applause. 

The slumber robe became for a while the centre 
of attraction. It was as great a surprise to Aunt 
Marcia as to her husband, and she admired it ex- 
tremely, praising the young needlewomen warmly. 


226 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR . 


“ Mr. Caruth and I feel envious, and want to 
know what you have done that so much work 
should be bestowed on you?” said Mr. Frank 
Hazeltine, joining the group around it. 

“You see, Father, he is a sort of public bene- 
factor; he gets up wonder balls and takes us to 
the circus, so he has to be publicly rewarded,” 
Louise explained gayly. 

“ I am sure I was Santa Claus once,” said Mr. 
Caruth. 

Supper was announced presently, and what a 
birthday supper it was ! Mandy and Sukey had 
done their best for Mr. William, and their best was 
not to be sniffed at. Aunt Zelie contributed menu 
cards, each with a flower and a quotation on it. 

Dora thought hers the prettiest of all. On it 
were a thistle and a wild rose, and the lines were : 

u Duty, like a strict preceptor, 

Sometimes frowns or seems to frown. 

Choose her thistle for thy sceptre, 

While youth’s roses are thy crown.” 

“ It was written by a poet for his own little 
daughter Dora,” said Mrs. Howard. 

Aleck had : 

“ The heights by great men reached and kept 
Were not attained by sudden flight, 

But they while their companions slept 
Were toiling upward in the night.” 

“ Cousin Zelie thinks I am lazy,” he said, laugh- 
ing. 


UNCLE WILLIAM IS SURPRISED. 227 


u Mine is better than Dora’s, and I know where 
it came from, and she has not an idea,” said Carl. 
His lines were : 

u M y good blade carves the casques of men, 

My tough lance thrusteth sure, 

My strength is as the strength of ten 
Because my heart is pure.” 

“I don’t care, for I can find out, and that is 
half the fun,” Dora replied, comparing hers with 
Louise’s, which had lilies of the valley on it, and 
these lines : 

“ I pray the prayer of Plato old — 

God make thee beautiful within, 

And may thine eyes the good behold 
In everything save sin.” 

Uncle William put his card away before any- 
body had seen it, and refused to show it, in spite of 
much coaxing. 

“It is too complimentary; modesty forbids,” 
Carl suggested. 

“ Why did n’t you and Miss Helen favor us with 
something original, Mrs. Howard?” asked Mr. 
Caruth. 

“ He is making fun of the Harp Man’s Benefit,” 
said Miss Hazeltine. 

“ I am afraid we exhausted our genius on that 
occasion,” her cousin answered, laughing. 

“ Uncle William, there is one thing you must 
tell us,” said Bess, “ and that is, when you were 
more surprised than to-night ? ” 


228 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


44 Oh, that was long ago ! ” he replied. 44 It was 
Aunt Marcia who surprised me.” All eyes turned 
to Mrs. Hazeltine. 

44 Aunt Marcia, how did you do it ? ” 

44 1 am sure I can’t tell you. I think I am the 
one most apt to be surprised.” 

44 You ’ll have to tell,” said Carl, turning to his 
uncle. 

44 Well, if you must know, it was when she said 
4 Yes: ” 

Everybody laughed, and his wife said majesti- 
cally : 44 My dear, you are very absurd.” But she 
did not appear seriously displeased. 

44 1 don’t understand,” remarked Helen ; 44 what 
did she say yes to?” and this of course brought 
down the house. 

After supper was over they danced and played 
games till, all too soon, the evening was over. 

44 Good times never last quite long enough,” 
Louise said, as her uncle was arranging for the 
farewell Virginia reel. 

44 1 thought they lasted the year around,” re- 
marked Mr. Caruth, who stood beside her. 

44 1 mean special ones,” she answered gayly, as 
she went off with him to take her place, leaving 
Ikey rather crestfallen. 

The others had quickly paired off: Carl and 
Dora, Aleck and Bess, Jim and Elsie, Will and 
Constance. Elsie called 44 Tucker ” aggravatingly 
as she passed. 


UNCLE WILLIAM IS SURPRISED. 229 


“ Anywajq I did n’t want to dance with her,” he 
said to himself. 

Miss Hazeltine was playing for them, and Aunt 
Marcia sat with Miss Brown looking on ; Aunt 
Z61ie stood in the doorway. 

She smiled at Ikey when he looked in her direc- 
tion, saying : “ Do you want a partner? ” 

His gloom turned to rapture. “ Oh ! Mrs. How- 
ard, will you ? ” 

“ I ’ll try,” she answered, as they took their 
places, his heart beating quickly with pride and 
delight. And never was a dance performed with 
more reverent devotion. 

“ Why, Aunt Zelie, that is not fair ! ” called 
Carl, as he and Dora danced down the middle and 
back again. 

U I didn’t know you danced, Mrs. Howard,” 
said Jim, upon whom Ikey cast a triumphant 
glance. 

When it was over she was besieged with part- 
ners for another, but she refused, declaring it was 
too late. 

So ended Uncle William’s surprise party. 

When the door had closed on the last guest and 
Bess at the piano was playing a snatch of a waltz, 
Carl pounced upon his aunt and carried her off 
before she knew it. 

“ Ikey shall not get ahead of me ,” he said, as 
after sailing twice around the room he dropped her 
breathless on the sofa. 


230 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


CHAPTER XXIII. 

JIM. 

For various reasons, after a flourishing existence 
of two winters, the G.N. Club was given up, or 
perhaps it should be said was merged in the Order 
of the Big Front Door, which still held monthly 
meetings, and whose members wore their silver 
keys and tried in different ways to carry out their 
motto. 

There was hardly time in the press of school 
work for the weekly meetings, and, besides, out of 
the little club had grown what was known as the 
Boys’ Civic League, an organization among school- 
boys, in which, under the direction of one of their 
professors, they studied the history of their own 
town and pledged themselves to do all they could 
for its welfare. So, as Mrs. Howard wished it, the 
Good Neighbors gave up their club and joined the 
League. 

They still considered themselves her boys, how- 
ever, and a week seldom passed in which some of 
them did not spend an hour with her. They 
owed more than they knew to her companion- 
ship, for in varying degrees her love for what was 
pure and true had left its impress on their char- 


JIM. 


231 


acters. Her interest in them had grown with 
their years, and she looked forward with regret to 
the next winter, when most of them would go away 
to school. She would miss their boyish devotion, 
and she dreaded the temptations which they must 
so surely meet. Each one must fight his own 
battle, she knew, and she had not much fear for 
quiet, painstaking Will, or even for Carl, with all 
his faults ; Ikey was still a good deal of a child, 
conscientious and open-hearted ; but Aleck, with his 
brightness and indolence, and Jim, with his hand- 
some face, engaging ways, and money, gave her 
most concern. 

Three years had brought about some changes. 
Little John’s place was vacant. A sudden sharp 
illness, and the frail life went out, leaving a sweet 
and gentle memory, for John had helped in ways 
he did not dream of-. Every one of those merry 
girls and hoys was more thoughtful and tender for 
the association with him. Seeing the pleasure 
their companionship gave him, they learned the 
value of simple friendliness. Fred Ames had gone 
to Chicago to live, and this reduced the members 
of the Order to ten, not counting, of course, the 
“ Honoraries,’* as Miss Brown and Aunt Zelie 
were called.. 

I can’t imagine what ails Jim,” Carl remarked 
at the lunch table one day, a week or two after 
Uncle William’s birthday; “he wasn’t at school 
and when I stopped there on my way home the 


232 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR . 


man said he believed he had a headache and could 
not see anyone. That is not in the least like 
Jim.” 

“ I see nothing so strange in that. A headache 
can be a very serious thing while it lasts,” said his 
father. 

“ But if you had seen the man. He looked as if 
he were making it up.” 

“ Much study has affected your imagination, 
Carl,” laughed Cousin Helen. 

“And what is the matter with you, then, Cousin 
Helen? Who sent Aunt Z61ie a postal card with 
nothing on it but the address ? ” inquired Louise. 

This caused a laugh, for Miss Hazeltine was just 
now the target for all the teasing her young relatives 
could contrive. 

Always somewhat famous for her absent minded- 
ness, now that she was soon to be married they 
chose to lay anjdhing of the kind to the fact of her 
being so deeply in love. 

“ Let me tell you the latest joke,” cried Aleck. 
“Last Sunday, when Mr. Arthur was here, they 
went to service at St. John’s. The usher wanted 
to take them up front, but Sister Helen, being 
very modest, stopped at a seat half-way and asked 
politely, 4 Can’t we occupew this py f ’ ” 

“ Aleck, you are too bad ! I only half said it,” 
exclaimed the victim, while the others shouted. 

Bess and Louise were in the seventh heaven of 
delight at the prospect of being bridesmaids, and 


JIM. 


233 


took a rapturous interest in all the preparations, 
their only regret being that Mr. Caruth was not to 
be the groom. Everybody was so occupied with 
other things that afternoon that Carl’s remark 
about Jim was forgotten till he came in at dinner- 
time, looking very much excited. 

“ You won’t think I am crazy now. The Carters 
have gone to smash, and it is reported that Mr. 
Carter tried to kill himself.” 

“Carl! How dreadful! Are you sure?” Aunt 
Zelie dropped her book in her astonishment. 

“ I am not altogether surprised,” said Mr. Hazel- 
tine, coming in. “He was known as one of the most 
reckless speculators in the country. His wealth 
was gained in that way, and now it has gone as it 
came.” 

“ Think of poor Jim,” said Carl. 

“ Poor boy ! And yet it may not be the worst 
thing for him,” added Mrs. Howard. 

“ What shall I do ? ” asked Carl. “ I am awfully 
sorry for him, but I am afraid he won’t want to see 
me, and I shouldn’t know what to say, anyway. 
I wonder if he will have to give up college and 
everything. Poor Jim!” 

Poor Jim, indeed ! There could not have been 
found a more wretchedly miserable boy than he. 
The loss of their money he hardly thought of, — did 
not realize, — but the horrid notoriety of it all made 
him sick. 

With burning face he read the sensational news- 


234 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR . 


paper reports, and thought how the boys at school 
were talking about him — perhaps pitying him. He 
did not want their pity ; he would rather have them 
indifferent. He wished he might never see any of 
them again. 

Toward his father he felt a certain resentment. 
It was not true that Mr. Carter had tried to kill 
himself, but mind and body had given way under 
the long strain, and he was ill with brain fever. 

Mrs. Carter was altogether unnerved by the 
suddenness of the calamity, so that she was not 
allowed in her husband’s room. If it had not been 
for her Jim would have run away, but he was very 
fond of his mother. He was the chief object of her 
interest and affection since his sisters had married 
and left home. She laughingly declared that Jim 
could make her do • anything, and certainly he 
brought about many improvements. She received 
good-naturedly his hints that Mrs. Howard did 
this, or that at the Hazeltines’ things were done 
so. He could not desert her now that she had no 
one else to depend on. 

Two dreadful days passed slowly, a number of 
his friends called to inquire, and left kind messages, 
for he would not see them. He spent his time 
strolling aimlessly through the handsojne house, 
occasionally going in to see his mother. He was 
very gentle to her, though he found her lamenta- 
tions hard to bear. 

Late in the afternoon of the second day he sat in 


I 


JIM. 235 

his room, trying to read. He was quite worn out 
with anxiety and loss of sleep, and was half-dozing, 
when his attention was attracted by a gleam of sun- 
shine reflected in something on the table beside him. 
It was the little silver key. The words of the motto 
stared him in the face : “ They Helped.” How much 
it recalled to him — such pleasant companionships, 
and some real effort to be kind and useful ! Was 
he going to fail now? Perhaps this was his great 
opportunity. If he did not help, who would? 

He stood up before the mirror, stretching himself 
to his full height, — a tall, broad-shouldered young 
fellow. 

“ Many a boy younger than I takes care of him- 
self, and so can I, and of my mother too,” and wide 
awake now he sat down to think. 

On the table lay a note from Mrs. Howard, which 
he had only half read. He took it up now, and the 
warm affection it expressed, and the confidence that 
he would bear his trouble bravely, stirred his man- 
liness — he would not disappoint her. “ I have 
been a coward,” he said, and with the same prompt 
decision which had surprised his companions on that 
Halloween so long ago he turned his back on his 
pride and useless regrets and became a man. When 
his father’s brother arrived that night Jim met him, 
saw to his comfort, explained all he knew about the 
trouble, and asked such intelligent questions, with 
such an evident determination to help himself, that 
his uncle was greatly pleased. 


236 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


There were weeks of anxious nursing while Mr. 
Carter hung between life and death, and his son, 
strong and gentle, made himself most useful in the 
sick-room. When at last the once sturdy, ambi- 
tious man struggled back to life he was only the 
wreck of what he had been. 

Jim returned to school when his father was 
out of danger, as his uncle thought he ought to 
finish the term. He was very much subdued, but 
his companions appreciated his manliness, and gave 
him a warm welcome. 

“ He has lots of pluck,” said Carl warmly ; “ he 
was as anxious to go to college as any of us, but 
he does n’t say a word about it now — says he is 
going to work this summer.” 

“ I wish you would tell him how pleased I am 
with him,” said Aunt Z61ie. “ I see so little of him 
lately, he seems almost shy.” 

The big house was sold, and when Mr. Carter 
could be moved he was taken to their new home, 
a little place that belonged to his wife. When 
everything was settled it was found that they 
would have a small income, enough to support two 
people in some degree of comfort. Then Jim’s 
uncle, to everybody ’s surprise, offered to send him 
to college. 

“ I don’t believe in it very much, but you are 
such a likely boy you may make something out of 
it, so if you want to go I ’ll foot the bills.” 

Jim brought the news one Friday night to a 


JIM. 


237 


meeting of the O.B.F.D. It was early, and only 
Carl and his annt were in the room. 

44 1 shall work very hard, for I mean to pay Uncle 
James back some day,” he said. 

44 That is right ; I am sure you will, and I am 
glad for you and proud of you, for you deserve 
it,” Aunt Zelie said earnestly. 

44 Are you really?” he asked humbly, but look- 
ing in his pleasure quite like his old self. 

44 Why, of course we are all proud of you, boy,” 
said Carl. 

And Jim thought he had never been so happy 
before. He had discovered that there are some 
things better even than money. 


238 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


CHAPTER XXIV. 

A DISAPPOINTMENT. 

Dora thought one of the pleasantest things 
about housekeeping was being able to give a tea- 
party now and then. They were of necessity very 
small affairs, if for no other reason than because 
Mrs. Warner could not stand much excitement. 

Mrs. Smith was delighted to do anything for Miss 
Dora, and finding out in some way when her birth- 
day came, herself proposed a celebration. 

Mrs. Warner entered into the idea with unusual 
interest, so Dora consented to invite Bess, Louise, 
Carl, Aleck, and Ikey. 

If it had been an order for a grand reception, 
Mrs. Smith could not have filled it with more 
pleasure. She sent up a delicious little, supper, 
and as the crowning glory, and a present from 
herself, an immense birthday cake in pink icing, 
with fifteen candles on it. 

It is needless to say they had a merry time. 
The hostess did the honors with a great deal of 
grace, looking very pretty in a charming gown 
brought to her from New York by Aunt Marcia. 
Mrs. Hazel tine was in the habit of bringing home 
pretty things to her nieces, and as she said she 


A DISAPPOINTMENT. 


239 


considered Dora one of them it was not possible 
to refuse her gifts. 

“ Suppose we tell what we mean to be when we 
are grown up,” suggested Bess, whep. the feast was 
over and they had drawn their chairs together in a 
cosey group. 

“ Dear me ! I don’t know,” said Dora. 

“ Well, what you would like to be, then? ” 

“ T think perhaps I shall be some kind of a 
teacher, — I know you will laugh — I believe 
I ’d like to keep a store and live back of it, as Mrs. 
Smith does.” 

“ A confectionery, Dora ? ” asked Louise, as they 
all laughed at this lofty ambition. “ I ’ll promise 
you my custom.” 

“ Ikey, you are next ; what are you going to do ? ” 
inquired Bess. 

“ Well, after Carl and I go to college I am going 
to study medicine. By that time Father will have 
left the navy, I hope, and we will all live here 
together, and I ’ll practise.” 

“ Perhaps there will be an office for you back of 
Dora’s store,” said Carl. 

“ I ’d like to write books,” said Bess. “ Beauti- 
ful stories that everybody will want to read. Then 
I ’ll make lots of money and build hospitals and do 
ever so much good.” 

“ The hospitals will be for Ikey to practise in, I 
suppose, my great and good cousin,” remarked 
Aleck, with a profound bow. 


240 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


44 I mean to be a judge,” announced Carl, who 
was next. 44 Now, Aleck.” 

44 1 am going to try for West Point next year. 
Father has given his consent, and — well, I ’ll 
be a general.” 

44 1 don’t see how you can unless there is a war,” 
said Ike}^. 

44 Perhaps there ’ll be one then, and if I am 
wounded I can go to Bess’s hospital and have you 
practise on me.” 

44 Louise, you are the last ; what noble ambition 
have you ? ” 

44 1 think I’ll illustrate Bess’s books and help 
Dora keep store,” she said, laughing. 

A knock at the door interrupted just here, and 
Uncle William’s cheery face appeared. 44 It is so 
late I must not stop,” he said ; 44 but I ran away 
from a political meeting to wish my little girl 
many happy returns.” 

44 There is to be another wedding in the family,” 
said Mrs. Howard, entering the library one day 
with some hyacinths in her hand. 

44 Do you mean it really ? I did not know there 
was anybody to get married but Cousin Helen,” 
Bess exclaimed. 

Carl looked up from a weighty volume he was 
consulting. 44 That is easy to guess ; it is Joanna, 
of course.” 

44 Is it Jo, Auntie ? ” 


A DISAPPOINTMENT. 


241 


“Yes, she confided it to me a few minutes ago. 
It will be in June, and Patrick Louglilin is the 
happy man.” 

“ I should think she would rather live with us, 
hut there is no accounting for taste,” said Bess, as 
she went to find Louise and tell the news. 

“ I can’t imagine what ails Ikey ; he is as cross as a 
bear,” remarked Carl, closing his book with a bang. 

“Perhaps he is worrying over examinations,” 
Aunt Z61ie suggested. 

Her nephew laughed. “That would not be like 
Ikey; and then he has done finely this term, so 
that there will not he a hit of trouble about his 
passing.” 

“I sincerely hope that there is not another of 
my boys in trouble,” she said anxiously. 

u Oh ! it can’t be anything really, only I never 
knew him to be snappish. I thought I ’d mention 
it, for you might get it out of him if you happen 
to see him.” 

About the middle of the afternoon Mrs. How- 
ard closed the front door behind her and came out 
into the pleasant spring air. As she reached the 
gate she caught sight of a light-brown head in one 
of the third-story windows across the street, and 
acting on a sudden impulse she made a signal. 

The window went up promptly, and going over 
she called : “ Can’t you come with me out to 

Neffler’s ? I ’d like some company. Never mind, of 
course, if you are busy.” 


242 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR . 


“ Thank you, I am not busy ; I ’ll come,” and in 
two minutes Ikey was beside her. 

It was easy to see he was not quite himself. 
Usually he would have been bubbling over with 
gayety at the honor of being chosen a companion 
for a long walk to the florist’s, but now the con- 
versation was all on one side. 

Mrs. Howard did her best to be entertaining, and 
took no notice of his evident preoccupation until 
she had given her orders and they turned toward 
home ; then she said : “ I have been waiting in the 
hope that you would tell me what is troubling you, 
but now I shall have to ask ; Carl and I are both 
wondering what has happened.” 

Ikey looked very much surprised, being under 
the delusion that he was concealing his feelings 
perfectly. 

“ I am not in any trouble,” he began, “ though I 
am bothered about something, and I ought n’t to 
be ; that is what makes it so bad.” 

His companion looked sympathetic and waited 
for further revelations. 

“You see,” Ikey went on, “I wrote to Papa 
about going to school with Carl next winter and to 
Yale the year after, and he was willing and so was 
Grandfather ; it seemed all settled. 1 knew they 
would be back in June, certainly Mamma and 
Alice, so we could spend the summer together. 
Then I thought, of course, they would be settled 
somewhere where I could go for my holidays, but 


A DISAPPOINTMENT. 


243 


now all my plans are spoiled : Papa has to go to the 
Pacific coast.” 

If his father had been sent to Siberia, Ikey’s tone 
could not have been more tragic. Mrs. Howard 
could hardly help smiling. 

“ I don’t quite understand yet,” she said. “ Does 
that mean that you will still be separated from 
your father and mother? or — ” 

“•That is what makes me feel so mean,” he burst 
out. “ Of course I want to be with them, and yet 
I can’t bear to go to California, and that is what I 
must do. Give up going with Carl, and go to 
some horrid old university out there. They seem 
to think I shall like it. Mamma is pleased because 
she used to live in San Francisco, and Grandfather 
thinks he will go out too. There is no help for it.” 

“ Then you will have to make the best of it, 
will you not? It is perfectly natural to feed as you 
do, after setting your heart on the other plan, and 
I am sure it does not mean any lack of affection 
for your father and mother.” 

“ I am glad you think it does n’t,” he said, in a 
relieved tone, for he had been torturing himself 
with the thought that he was a most unnatural 
son. 

“ I hate to think of going so far away and never 
seeing any of you again, when you have been so 
good to me.” His voice faltered. 

“ I should feel very ibadly if you could leave us 
without caring, after all our good times together. 


244 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


Carl will be dreadfully disappointed, but as for not 
meeting again, California is not so far away as that, 
and it is not likely your father will be there for the 
rest of his life.” She spoke with great cheerful- 
ness, not daring to be too sympathetic. 

44 I ’ll try not to hate it so,” Ikey said, bracing up 
a little. 

Mrs. Howard insisted on taking him home to 
dinner, and when Carl came in he found him hold- 
ing a skein of wool for Bess while Louise read 
aloud ^ and if not quite his usual gay self he was at 
least more cheerful than he had been for days. 

The storm which arose when his friends heard 
of the change in his plans was most comforting. 
Carl declared he didn’t half care about going to 
college himself if Ikey could n’t go, and Bess 
remarked sorrowfully that everything would be 
different next winter, with Cousin Helen married 
and the boys all away. 

44 Why, Ikey and Cousin Helen are going to the 
same place ! ” exclaimed Louise, 44 and we are going 
to see her, so we’ll see him too.” Here was a 
gleam of brightness, and Carl added, 44 And of 
course when you get to be a doctor you will come 
back to practise in Bess’s hospital.” 

When letters came from his mother and father, 
telling more fully their plans, and overflowing with 
the pleasure of being all together again, Ikey 
would not have been his warm-hearted self if he 
had not been glad. Dear as were the friendships 


4 DISAPPOINTMENT. 


245 


which he had made in the three years spent at his 
grandfather’s, family ties were stronger. 

Old Mr. Ford said he did not know what he 
should do without his grandson, and talked seri- 
ously of accepting his son’s invitation to try a win- 
ter in California. 

It was finally arranged that Ikey should meet 
his parents in New York sometime about the mid- 
dle of July, and as that was more than two months 
distant, and the present full of interesting events, 
as Louise expressed it, he put aside his disappoint- 
ment and was as merry as ever. 


246 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


CHAPTER XXV. 

AUNT ZELIE. 

The interesting events were, first, the school 
commencements, and, the week after, Cousin Hel- 
en’s wedding. 

This last, which was a grand affair, took place at 
her country home. The ceremony was performed 
on the lawn, under the big forest trees, and Bess 
and Louise made two charming and happy brides- 
maids, quite worthy of such a lovely bride. 

The ten were all invijted, for Miss Hazeltine took 
a deep interest in the Order of the Big Front Door, 
and said she meant to start something of the kind 
in her new home. There never was such a beau- 
tiful wedding, these young people thought, and 
they were not alone in their opinion. 

The sweet summer day, the blue sky, the trees 
and grass, and the gay company, all made a lasting 
impression on the guests. 

The bride would have no formality, but moved 
about among her friends as if it were simply a 
garden party. 

“ Do you know what this reminds me of ? ” Bess 
asked Louise, as they sat on the grass with the other 
girls, waiting for the boys to bring them some ices. 


AUNT Z&L1E. 


247 


“No, what?” 

“ Why, Lucie Carleton’s wedding, to he sure ; 
you have n’t forgotten that ? ” They both laughed 
at the recollection. 

“Of course I have n’t. What fun it was, and 
how long it is since we have played 4 the Carle- 
tons ’ ! ” 

44 What is the joke ? ” inquired Jim, coming back 
with his hands full. 

44 Oh, just something this wedding reminds us 
of,” Bess replied. 

44 1 ’m reminded that there is not much more fun 
for me,” said Ikey, in a momentary fit of despond- 
ency. 

44 What a long face ! ” laughed Dora. 44 Remem- 
ber this is a cheerful occasion. The next thing you 
will be married yourself to some California girl.” 

44 He is coming back to see us before then, are n’t 
you, Ikey ? ” said Louise. 

44 In six years he is coming back to stay,” added 
Carl. 

44 1 wonder where we shall all be six years from 
now,” said Constance, placidly eating her ice. 

44 Dear me, I shall be twenty ; think of it ! ” 
From Bess’s tone one might have inferred that 
this meant extreme old age. 

44 1 expect to be married before that,” remarked 
Elsie confidently. 

44 Is it possible? I wonder to whom,” Aleck 
exclaimed with an air of great surprise. 


248 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


“ I am sure I don’t know, for I have never seen 
anybody I ’d marry if he begged me forever,” she 
retorted scornfully. 

“ Be quiet, you two geese, and don’t spoil this 
lovely day by quarrelling,” admonished Dora. 

“To change the subject, isn’t Aunt Z£lie a 
daisy?” said Carl, pointing across the lawn where 
she stood, looking wonderfully fair and sweet in 
her soft white dress, with a touch of sunlight on 
her hair. 

“ There is nobody in the world like her,” said 
Dora. 

“ I should think not 1 ” echoed Jim. 

u She is the dearest, loveliest, most beautiful, 
and everything-else-you-can-think-of person that 
ever lived,” Louise declared with emphasis. 

“You haven’t left much for the rest of us to 
say, ” remarked Will, “ but I am sure we all 
agree.” 

There must have been some attraction about 
the ten pairs of eyes, for just then she turned, and 
seeing them smiled and threw a kiss in their direc- 
tion. 

The sad thing about this wedding was the part- 
ing which followed. Mr. Arthur found himself 
very unpopular when at last it dawned upon her 
young relatives what it meant to tell Cousin Helen 
good-by with the certainty that, though she prom- 
ised to come back often to visit, she would never 
live among them, their merry playfellow, again. 


AUNT ZELIE. 


249 


Aleck discovered that he was extremely fond of 
this sister, and felt what he considered an unmanly 
tightness about his throat when she kissed him. 
The bridesmaids were decidedly tearful, and only 
the thought of the other wedding in prospect 
restored their cheerfulness. This last-mentioned 
affair took place two days later at the Cathedral. 
The whole family attended, and Joanna, in blue 
with a white veil and wreath, with Nannie for 
bridesmaid, in a dress the. counterpart of her own, 
made a blooming and happy bride. After a wed- 
ding breakfast at the Hazeltines’ the couple de- 
parted, with many good wishes for their happi- 
ness, to have their pictures taken. 

Aunt Zdlie sat alone in the wide hall that after- 
noon. The door was open, and outside the sun- 
shine sifted through the vines as the wind kept 
them swinging softly to and fro ; it was very still, 
and the ticking of the tall clock had a mournful 
sound. 

No doubt it was the reaction after the excite- 
ment of the last few weeks that made her feel so 
weary and sad. Unhappy thoughts seemed deter- 
mined to take possession of her mind — regrets for 
the past and fears for the future ; she could not 
throw off the depression. 

She thought of Carl’s going, and how she would 
miss him. Would he become weaned from the old 
happy home life? Had she done all she might 
have done to help him to good, true manhood? 


250 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


She asked herself these questions sadly ; in her 
present mood it seemed to her she had failed of 
what she most wished to accomplish. 

These dreary thoughts so engrossed her that 
Jim’s voice, asking, “May I come in?” caused her 
to start. 

“ Certainly,” she answered, “I am glad to see 
you, though I warn you I am not in a very good 
humor.” 

He did not appear alarmed. “ I met Carl and 
he said I ’d probably find you here. I want to tell 
you something.” 

“ I am ready to listen,” she said encouragingly, 
but Jim seemed to find it hard to begin, and looked 
at the floor in a hesitating way quite unusual. 

Aunt Z61ie watched him, thinking that some- 
thing had come into that handsome young face of 
late which spoke hopefully for the future. 

She was very much surprised at his words. 

“ Mrs. Howard, I have decided not to go to col- 
lege.” They were resolute eyes that looked up at 
her. 

“ But I thought your uncle wished you to go — 
that it was all settled. Are you sure you are doing 
wisely? ” 

His face flushed. 

“ I beg your pardon, dear,” she said before he 
could reply. “ I know you have a good reason. I 
am surprised, that is all.” 

“ It is on Mother’s account, chiefly ; she needs me 


AUNT ZELIE. 


251 


now that Father is so feeble. Then yon know she 
is used to having things, and though she thinks 
she could get along, I should feel mean to have 
her scrimp and pinch at home when I am having a 
good time at college. I went to see Mr. Barrows 
to-day, and he thinks he can give me a situation. 
They say it is a good place for a fellow to get a 
start in, so I am going to be a business man.” 

He spoke earnestly and cheerfully, but she 
guessed the struggle it had cost. He was used 
to “ having things ” himself. 

She laid her hand on his. “ You are learning to 
be brave and unselfish, to help in the truest sense, 
and these are far more valuable lessons than any 
you could learn out of books. I honor you for 
your decision.” Aunt Zelie spoke with shining 
eyes. 

“ If I have learned anything it is you who have 
taught me,” Jim said gently. 

“ If I have really been a help to you I am very 
glad and thankful, but I am sure most of the credit 
belongs to the boy who was so ready to be helped.” 

When he left, after half an hour’s talk, her sym- 
pathy and interest had already made his sacrifice 
seem a little easier, but he did not guess how he 
had on his part cheered and comforted this kind 
friend. 

Jim had been gone only a few minutes when 
Aunt Zelie’s corner was a^ain invaded. This 
time it was Ikey who looked in, and seeing her 


252 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


alone came and took possession of a stool at her 
feet. 

“ I am going a week from next Thursday,” he 
announced. 

“ I don’t enjoy all these changes in the least,” 
she said, patting the curly head ; “ I can’t think 
what I shall do without my boys.” 

“You have been so awfully good to me, only I 
never could say so like Jim. I don’t want to go 
away and have you think I don’t care, for I do, and 
I hope you won’t forget me.” Ikey got through 
this speech with difficulty. 

Aunt Zelie couldn’t help laughing at him. 
“You are a dear boy, and there is not the slightest 
danger that we will ever forget you,” she said, and 
then she told him about the talk she had just had 
with Jim. 

“ He is splendid, is n’t he ? and I used to wonder 
why Carl liked him.” 

“ Yes, he has changed a good deal since we first 
knew him, but I am proud of all my boys, and 
believe I can trust them wherever they go.” 

It was almost dark in the hall when she found 
herself taken possession of by two strong arms, 
and Carl’s voice inquired what she was doing all 
alone. 

“ Feeling ashamed of myself.” 

“ Very unnecessary, I am surfe.” 

“No, I was worrying a little over you hoys for 
one tiring ; then I had a visit from Jim.” 


AUNT ZELIE . 


253 


“ He is tiptop, but I don’t know what I am 
going to do without old Ikey.” 

u Then tell him so, for he is afraid we will forget 
him.” 

“ Ikey is a great goose ; but indeed, Aunt Zelie, 
you need not be afraid for us ! I don’t mean to be 
self-confident, — I know I shall often do wrong, — 
but it means a lot to a fellow when he has some- 
body like you to care for him.” 

“ Why, how dark it js ! Who is here ? I can’t 
see,” exclaimed Bess, coming in, followed by her 
father and Louise. 

“ Carl making love to Aunt Z61ie,” said the 
latter, dropping down on the other side of her 
aunt, and taking possession of all that was left. 

Bess surveyed them discontentedly. u There is 
not a scrap of a place for me.” 

“ You will have to put up with your old father,” 
said Mi\ Hazel tine. 

u You are better than nobody,” she said saucily. 

“ I forgot to tell you,” began Louise suddenly, 
“that Mr. Caruth is going to Japan.” 

“ Is that so ? ” her father said in surprise, while 
Carl and Bess both exclaimed. “ Did you know 
anything of it, Z61ie?” 

“ It is rather a sudden decision, I fancy. Some 
friends have been urging him to go. He was here 
this afternoon and said good-by,” she replied. 

“ I met him just as he was leaving,” said Louise, 


254 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


“ and he asked me to say good-by to everybody 
for him.” 

-“ If everybody goes, what are we to do? ” asked 
Bess disconsolately. 

“Suppose we go, too! What do you say, Zelie, 
to sending Carie and Helen to comfort Aunt Annie 
in her loneliness while the rest of us go off for a 
holiday ? We can see Ikey on his way and drop 
Carl at school later on.” 

“You are an angel to think of such a thing!” 
cried Louise, and Mr. Hazeltine was so nearly 
suffocated by his ecstatic daughters that he almost 
regretted his proposal. 

Aunt Z&Lie would n’t have dared to object if she 
had wished to, so she and her brother made their 
plans while the girls and Carl ran over to tell Ikey 
the good news. 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR IS LEFT ALONE. 255 


CHAPTER XXVI. 

THE BIG FRONT DOOR IS LEFT ALONE. 

“ If Dora could only go ! ” Bess said, as she and 
Louise flew around in a delightful bustle of prep- 
aration. 

As this was quite out of the question, Dora was 
content to stay at home. She promised Helen that 
she would go over and pet Mr. Smith, the cat, 
occasionally, that he might not feel her absence too 
deeply,' and Aunt Z61ie told her to help herself to 
all the flowers she wanted. Uncle William sent 
her half a dozen new books, and the girls and Carl 
promised to write often. 

The boys felt themselves to be most important 
members qf society as the time for leaving drew 
near, for they were petted and feasted and made 
much of generally. 

, Aunt Marcia gave them an elegant dinner ; Elsie 
had a fete in their honor ; but best of all was the 
farewell tea-party at Miss Brown’s the evening 
before they left, to which only the ten were 
invited. 

It would be impossible to tell of all the fun 
they had, and how Mary actually came so near 
laughing at some of the nonsense that she had to 


256 


THE RIG FRONT DOOll. 


beat a hasty retreat to the kitchen to save her 
dignity. 

They drank the health of the departing members 
in lemonade, and then Ikey proposed “ the Lady of 
the Brown House, who has been altogether jolly, 
though we did begin by breaking her window.” 

This was received with great applause, and 
Aleck said, “You must make a speech, Miss 
Brown.” 

“ I am afraid I shall not be equal to the occa- 
sion,” she answered ; “ but I must say that I have 
always been glad of that broken window. I owe 
to it some of my happiest hours, and I thank you 
all for you kindness to your invalid neighbor.” 

“ Three cheers for Miss Brown ! ” cried Aleck. 

“ I think she will be just as much complimented 
if we make less noise,” suggested Bess. “ I am 
sure she knows that we all love her, and if we have 
given her any happiness it is only a piece oi the 
pleasure she has given us come back to her.” 

“ Hurrah for Bess ! ” cried the irrepressible one. 

Next Will proposed the Big Front Door. 

Great enthusiasm prevailed as Carl rose to 
respond. They all expected one of his spread- 
eagle efforts, but instead he said : “ I thank you 
all in the name of the Big Front Door and the 
people who live behind it. We have had good 
times there and hope to have more in the future, 
but besides this it has helped us to do right some- 
times, and though our Order may seem rather 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR IS LEFT ALONE. 257 


childish now, let us not forget our motto, and keep 
our silver keys to remind us to be helpers wherever 
we go.” 

He sat down with a flushed face, rather abashed 
at his own earnestness. 

“ Good for you ! ” said Jim cordially, and the 
others responded, “We will! We will!” 

In the midst of the festivities Louise was dis- 
covered in tears. “ I did not mean to,” she said, 
“ but it seems as if everything was coming to an 
end.” 

“It is only the end of a chapter, and we will 
begin another presently,” Dora suggested brightly. 

In two minutes Louise was laughing through her 
tears, and the party came to an end as cheerfully 
as it had begun. 

Dora waved a good-by to the travellers as they 
passed early the next morning. In the afternoon 
she went over to the deserted house, where only 
Sukey was left in charge, petted Mr. Smith, and 
cut some roses ; then she went out and sat on the 
carriage block and recalled the day three years 
before when she had stopped there to rest, and had 
wondered who lived in that pleasant house. 

There was the same big, hospitable door, but it 
would not open to-day to let out two merry little 
maidens. 

From her window Miss Brown nodded and 
beckoned, so she ran across and paid her a visit. 


258 


THE BIG FRONT DOOR. 


“ Come often and cheer me up, for I shall miss 
my neighbors dreadfully,” that lady said as she 
was leaving. 

“ I will,” answered Dora, adding merrily, “but 
you still have the Big Front Door.” 


THE END. 

















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